Leftward Drift in Central America: FMLN Wins Presidency in El Salvador

Strategic Insights -

Mauricio Funes, a former television journalist and candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), has won the presidential election in El Salvador with 51.3 per cent of the vote, defeating incumbent conservative Arena party candidate Rodrigo Avila by a margin of 2.6 percentage points. This historic victory marks the first time the FMLN has won a presidential vote since the 1992 peace accord brought an end to 12 years of civil war that cost 75,000 lives. Funes' win completes central America's leftward drift, with the FMLN's victory removing the last openly right-wing government in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • Funes, a former Marxist guerrilla, won the election with 51.3 per cent of the vote, defeating Avila with 48.7 per cent.
  • Funes' victory marks the first time the FMLN has won a presidential vote since the 1992 peace accord, ending 12 years of civil war that cost 75,000 lives.
  • The election marks central America's leftward drift, with Funes' win removing the last openly right-wing government in the region.
  • Funes has promised greater social spending to head off the effects of the global economic crisis and reduce levels of violence, while also reassuring private business and maintaining a relation of understanding and mutual respect with the US.
  • Funes has also pledged to crack down on tax evasion by the rich and invest in farming to reduce dependence on imported food, as well as create jobs for Salvadorean immigrants returning from the US.
  • Funes takes office without a legislative majority, but has dismissed the idea that it could prove difficult to form alliances.
  • The US government congratulated Funes on his victory, saying that it wanted to work with the new government through a spokesperson.

Statistics:

  • 75,000 lives were lost in the 12 years of civil war that ended with the 1992 peace accord.
  • Funes won the election with 51.3 per cent of the vote, a margin of 2.6 percentage points over Avila's 48.7 per cent.
  • The US government has congratulated Funes on his victory, with a spokesperson saying that the elections were "very free, fair and democratic".

Sources:

  • The Guardian, "Funes is king in El Salvador", 2009
  • Inter-American Dialogue, "Expert analysis on Mauricio Funes' victory"
  • Reuters, "El Salvador's FMLN says votes add up to victory"
  • BBC News, "El Salvador election: Funes wins presidential vote"
  • The New York Times, "El Salvador Elects Leftist as President"