What Happened
Panama has endorsed a proposed change to the decision-making rules inside the Central American Integration System, known as SICA, a move that would keep consensus as the preferred path but allow majority voting when unanimity cannot be reached. The proposal is designed to help the regional body move faster on political and institutional issues that have often slowed its work.
The new framework was discussed during the 93rd meeting of the SICA Council of Foreign Ministers on April 24 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which holds the pro tempore presidency for the first half of 2026. The plan centers on a “Regulation on Integration, Quorum and Adoption of Decisions,” intended to modernize how the organization operates and support more timely, effective and continuous decisions.
How the Proposal Would Work
Under the new formula, consensus would remain the general rule. If member states cannot agree unanimously, the system would allow decisions to advance with a qualified majority equal to 75% of member states. Panama’s foreign ministry said delegates supported the model as a practical way to streamline internal processes and adjust the bloc to current conditions.
President José Raúl Mulino publicly backed the shift on May 12, saying on X that the acceptance of majority mechanisms “opens a new stage” that should be lasting. He added that Panama supports the change and expects it to help reactivate the regional system.
Regional Context
The Santo Domingo meeting was the first in-person gathering of foreign ministers since 2023, underscoring the importance of the moment for SICA, which was created in 1991 and includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Panama was represented by Carlos Guevara Mann, vice minister for multilateral affairs and cooperation, who also used the meeting to invite member countries to participate in events marking the Bicentennial of the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama, scheduled for late June.
Member states confirmed their participation in that commemoration, which will include a High-Level Week from June 20 to June 27. During those sessions, regional leaders are expected to meet in person and address pending issues within the bloc. The meeting will also formalize the transfer of the pro tempore presidency from the Dominican Republic to Belize for the second half of 2026.
What It Means for Panama and the Region
The reform reflects growing pressure on regional institutions to act with greater speed in a time of economic, social and geopolitical strain. For Panama, the proposal aligns with its broader push to keep Central American cooperation active and functional, especially as the country prepares for a new round of regional diplomacy.
The Dominican foreign ministry also said member states advanced on a consensual roadmap for choosing the next SICA secretary general, a post that will correspond to Costa Rica for the 2026-2030 period. Panama will again be at the center of regional diplomacy later in June, when it hosts the 56th regular session of the OAS General Assembly from June 22 to June 24, coinciding with the bicentennial of the 1826 congress.
Panama concluded its own pro tempore presidency of SICA at the end of 2025, and its support for the proposed voting change signals backing for a more flexible system that can still preserve the bloc’s tradition of consensus.