The rightist Arena party controls the assembly.

Christian Democratic Government gradually loses political credibility, and right-wing Arena party wins 1988 Assembly elections.

He defeated his conservative rival from the Arena party which had previously won every election since El Salvador's civil war ended in 1992.

But the Arena party, which is the main opposition, has made a serious effort to distance itself from its image as sponsor of death squads.

The extreme right-wing Arena party, having crushed Duarte's party in the last municipal and legislative elections, looks likely to win the presidency.

President Cristiani's Arena party has been expressing conflicting ideas on how the reforms are to be ratified.

The right-wing Arena party, which now has only a one-vote margin in Parliament, respected the results.

Much of the killing has been attributed to right-wing death squads linked to the Arena party.

But recent upheavals in El Salvador's right-wing Arena party threaten this peace dividend and the country's democratic future.

Mr. Cristiani's Arena party contains many people who regard the fight against the guerrillas as a holy crusade.