Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | N | NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs

EL SAVADOR ELECTION RESULTS STRENGTHEN F.M.L.N., BUT LITTLE CHANGE IS EXPECTED.

Article Excerpt
The major party of the left, the Faribundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN), appears to have gained some strength in El Salvador's March 16 elections. For the third time running, the FMLN has captured the mayoralty of San Salvador. The party also improved its standing in the Asamblea Nacional, winning 31 seats. The ruling party, right- wing Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA), won 27, with the remaining 24 divided among five parties. The Partido Conciliacion Nacional (PCN) won 16, the Centro Democratico Unido (CDU) five, and the Partido Democratico Cristiano (PDC) won four. The Popular Revolucionario (PR) and Accion Nacional still await a final count to determine the last seat. These are the results reported by the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) on March 18, with 84% of the vote counted.

Newly elected mayor of San Salvador Carlos Rivas Zamora claimed victory, saying, "The people of El Salvador have written a new page in the revolutionary process driven by the FMLN with this new example of democracy." While he took between 49% and 51% of the vote, trouncing ARENA candidate Evelyn Jacir de Lovo who had between 30% and 32%, it wasn't much of an example of democracy. About 60% of the electorate abstained from voting, according to estimates, which may change somewhat for the better as tallies are completed. Eighty-four legislators and 262 mayors...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!