El Parlacen, whose mission is to strengthen representative democracy and coordinate interaction between different institutions, was originally conceived to emulate the European Parliament. However, there is currently a debate about the possibility of Panama leaving this organization.
Amid this discussion, the idea arises that the institution does not meet the expectations or objectives for which it was created. Some voices point to the need to rethink its role and relevance in the current political context.
As expressed by a critic of Parlacen: "Its mission is to exercise effective leadership aimed at strengthening representative democracy, the inter-institutional coordination in the process". Despite these words, there is a widespread feeling of dissatisfaction and a desire to seek more effective alternatives in the task of strengthening democratic representation in the region.
