Salvadoran Parliamentary Elections, 18 January 2009

[Bono]

Past election (2006) results were as follows:

Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), liberal-conservative: 39.4% 34 seats
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), socialist: 39.7%32 seats
National Conciliation Party (PCN), conservative: 11% 10 seats
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Christian Democratic: 6.8% 6 seats
Democratic Change (PDC), social-democratic: 3.1% 2 seats

I know of no polls, but if the tendencies are similar to the Presidential Election's, which will be held later this year, FMLN should overtake ARENA.

[Linus Van Pelt]

Are the current leaders of the FMLN socialists in the Chavez/Morales style or the Lula/Bachelet style? They seem from the Wikipedia article to have had a lot of factions on both sides.

[Daniel Adams]

Are the current leaders of the FMLN socialists in the Chavez/Morales style or the Lula/Bachelet style? They seem from the Wikipedia article to have had a lot of factions on both sides.

The FMLN's presidential candidate, Mauricio Funes, appears to be more moderate, in the Lula/Bachelet mold. However, others in the party are far more radical, including vice-presidential candidate Salvador Sánchez Cerén. In the 1980s, the FMLN was an extremist terrorist group backed by the USSR. The party as a whole has moderated somewhat since then, but extremists still remain.

[CultureKing]

Are the current leaders of the FMLN socialists in the Chavez/Morales style or the Lula/Bachelet style? They seem from the Wikipedia article to have had a lot of factions on both sides.

The FMLN's presidential candidate, Mauricio Funes, appears to be more moderate, in the Lula/Bachelet mold. However, others in the party are far more radical, including vice-presidential candidate Salvador Sánchez Cerén. In the 1980s, the FMLN was an extremist terrorist group backed by the USSR. The party as a whole has moderated somewhat since then, but extremists still remain.

I feel like ARENA has done just as much "terrorism" as has FMLN. I put quotations around terrorism because it was a civil war, and while horrible acts were committed I don't think it is quite accurate to call it terrorism. Personally I see the FMLN as being center-left currently.

[platypeanArchcow]

From Wikipedia:

Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional)    37    +5
Nationalist Republican Alliance (Alianza Republicana Nacionalista)   32   –2
Christian Democratic Party (Partido Demócrata Cristiano)   7   +1
National Conciliation Party (Partido de Conciliación Nacional)   4   –6
Democratic Change (Cambio Democrático)    2   ±0

[Lief 🗽]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

[Daniel Adams]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

[Hash]

The FMLN doesn't hold a majority under these figures, and neither does FMLN + CD. However, ARENA + PNC + PDC has a majority.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

ARENA aren't exactly all that clean either, for all the accusations of anti-Catholicism I get I'm not supporting a group like them which has murdered hordes of priests and nuns, among others...

[Bono]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

ARENA aren't exactly all that clean either, for all the accusations of anti-Catholicism I get I'm not supporting a group like them which has murdered hordes of priests and nuns, among others...

These priests and nuns were Liberation theology heretics who were stockpiling weapons for, and generally abetting, the FMLN. I'm no saying they are completely justified, and in many cases it may have been excess force, and innocents may have perished. I'm not excusing that, but your post makes it sound like a great part of the Catholic Church in El Salvador weren't reaping what they sowed.

[Bono]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

ARENA is actually most economically conservative (in the American sense) than most other Latin American "conservative" parties. They've privatized social security, for instance.

[Dan the Roman]

I can't believe the embrace of ARENA on here. They were too thuggish for the Reagan officials who supported the Contras.

[Hash]

Map using TSE data I found. I'm not sure if all precincts are out yet, as some municipalities (in gray) have no results. White indicates a lake.

[Daniel Adams]

I can't believe the embrace of ARENA on here. They were too thuggish for the Reagan officials who supported the Contras.

Today's political party is not exactly the same as the 1980's guerrilla organization. They have moderated far more than the FMLN.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I can't believe the embrace of ARENA on here. They were too thuggish for the Reagan officials who supported the Contras.

Today's political party is not exactly the same as the 1980's guerrilla organization. They have moderated far more than the FMLN.

It's a ridiculous double standard to argue FMLN is nothing but a Soviet-backed terrorist organization but ARENA have washed themselves of all past sins.

But yes as pointed out, even the Reagan administration opposed ARENA, and spent much money against ARENA's founder Roberto D'Aubuisson's Presidential campaign, opting to back the centrist candidate of the Christian Democratic Party instead. D'Aubuisson was also linked to a planned coup against a pro-Western government.

Here's a nice quote from D'Aubuisson too:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[CultureKing]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

ARENA aren't exactly all that clean either, for all the accusations of anti-Catholicism I get I'm not supporting a group like them which has murdered hordes of priests and nuns, among others...

These priests and nuns were Liberation theology heretics who were stockpiling weapons for, and generally abetting, the FMLN. I'm no saying they are completely justified, and in many cases it may have been excess force, and innocents may have perished. I'm not excusing that, but your post makes it sound like a great part of the Catholic Church in El Salvador weren't reaping what they sowed.

Seriously??? Arena was responsible for a greater number of deaths than the FMLN during the civil war, I am not saying either side was great but can't you at least recognize that arena was nothing close to even ok?
example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mozote_massacre

[Daniel Adams]

I can't believe the embrace of ARENA on here. They were too thuggish for the Reagan officials who supported the Contras.

Today's political party is not exactly the same as the 1980's guerrilla organization. They have moderated far more than the FMLN.

It's a ridiculous double standard to argue FMLN is nothing but a Soviet-backed terrorist organization but ARENA have washed themselves of all past sins.

But yes as pointed out, even the Reagan administration opposed ARENA, and spent much money against ARENA's founder Roberto D'Aubuisson's Presidential campaign, opting to back the centrist candidate of the Christian Democratic Party instead. D'Aubuisson was also linked to a planned coup against a pro-Western government.

Here's a nice quote from D'Aubuisson too:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It is manifestly clear that ARENA has thoroughly reformed itself since the civil war days. I'd be willing to bet none of its members, at least those in positions in power, continue to espouse D'Aubuisson's extremist ideas. President Antonio Saca's record is certainly not that of a right-wing paramilitary thug. In fact, Presidents Cristiani, Calderón, and Flores have all belonged to ARENA and their administrations have all been peaceful and democratic.

The FMLN, on the other hand, continues to include several relics of the Cold War era. Their presidential candidate, Mauricio Funes, is clearly a moderate. However, several party leaders, starting with vice-presidential nominee Salvador Sánchez Cerén, are still hard-line left-wingers. Sánchez Cerén has, for instance, been publicly supportive of the FARC, the Colombian terrorist group. Although Funes is campaigning towards the center, some FMLN leaders talk about "revising" diplomatic relations with the United States, and still suggest they might try to impose some version of the "socialist model". Neither is it entirely clear whether the FMLN has completely disarmed. As late as 2005, the head of the FMLN appeared in Hugo Chávez's television program to offer weapons and trained soldiers in the event that the United States invaded Venezuela, implying that the FMLN still had weapons and trained soldiers. I fear Funes may be overwhelmed by the extremist elements within his party.

[Hash]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

ARENA aren't exactly all that clean either, for all the accusations of anti-Catholicism I get I'm not supporting a group like them which has murdered hordes of priests and nuns, among others...

These priests and nuns were Liberation theology heretics who were stockpiling weapons for, and generally abetting, the FMLN. I'm no saying they are completely justified, and in many cases it may have been excess force, and innocents may have perished. I'm not excusing that, but your post makes it sound like a great part of the Catholic Church in El Salvador weren't reaping what they sowed.

Seriously??? Arena was responsible for a greater number of deaths than the FMLN during the civil war, I am not saying either side was great but can't you at least recognize that arena was nothing close to even ok?
example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mozote_massacre

Indeed. People should atleast recognize that ARENA were not angels, far from it. Neither was the FMLN, however. It isn't a matter of supporting one party of another, but people should recognize that ARENA weren't angels.

On the matter of Aubuisson, the ARENA website doesn't seem to be running away from Aubuisson that much.

[Daniel Adams]

Aha! Another defeat of the neoliberal reactionaries! Latin America is the best.

Neoliberal reactionaries? That's somewhat of a contradiction. Latin American economic policy has traditionally been extremely statist, so in this case the more reactionary party won. I'm not sure we should celebrate the triumph of a Cold War era Soviet-backed terrorist group.

ARENA aren't exactly all that clean either, for all the accusations of anti-Catholicism I get I'm not supporting a group like them which has murdered hordes of priests and nuns, among others...

These priests and nuns were Liberation theology heretics who were stockpiling weapons for, and generally abetting, the FMLN. I'm no saying they are completely justified, and in many cases it may have been excess force, and innocents may have perished. I'm not excusing that, but your post makes it sound like a great part of the Catholic Church in El Salvador weren't reaping what they sowed.

Seriously??? Arena was responsible for a greater number of deaths than the FMLN during the civil war, I am not saying either side was great but can't you at least recognize that arena was nothing close to even ok?
example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mozote_massacre

Indeed. People should atleast recognize that ARENA were not angels, far from it. Neither was the FMLN, however. It isn't a matter of supporting one party of another, but people should recognize that ARENA weren't angels.

On the matter of Aubuisson, the ARENA website doesn't seem to be running away from Aubuisson that much.

Featuring the party founder on a party's webpage is a far cry from continuing to embrace his ideas. The Chilean Socialist Party page, for instance, prominently displays images of and references to Salvador Allende, despite the fact that the party has moderated significantly and more or less accepts the free market model established by President Pinochet. Likewise, the fact that the Democratic Party webpage gushingly praises its founder, Thomas Jefferson, does not imply the Democrats still believe in Jefferson's minarchism and agrarianism.

[Hash]

Figures as reported by the TSE.

FMLN 42.83% winning 34 seats (±0)
ARENA 38.46% winning 30 seats (-4)
National Conciliation Party 8.71% winning 11 seats (+1)
Christian Democratic 6.72% winning 5 seats (-1)
Democratic Change 2.11% winning 1 seat (-1)

ARENA+PCN have a majority on these figures

[Bono]

Wait, which one is right?

[Hash]

Wait, which one is right?

The TSE, obviously.

[Bono]

Two seats are pending, in the Cabañas department, after the elections had to be rescheduled for today because a group of foreigners tried to vote.
I'd bet you 10:1 they were Venezuelans.