2012 Salvadoran legislative and local elections explained

Country:El Salvador
Previous Election:2009
Next Election:2015
Election Date:11 March 2012
Seats For Election:All 84 seats in the Legislative Assembly
43 seats needed for a majority
Turnout:51.91% (1.7 pp)
Party1:Nationalist Republican Alliance
Percentage1:39.76
Leader1:Jorge Velado
Seats1:33
Last Election1:32
Party2:Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
Percentage2:36.76
Leader2:Medardo González
Seats2:31
Last Election2:35
Party3:Grand Alliance for National Unity
Colour3:
  1. E67306
Percentage3:9.60
Leader3:José Andres Rovira
Seats3:11
Last Election3:new
Party4:National Coalition Party (El Salvador)
Percentage4:7.18
Leader4:Manuel Rodríguez
Seats4:7
Last Election4:11
Party6:Christian Democratic Party (El Salvador)
Percentage6:2.76
Seats6:1
Last Election6:5
Party8:CD
Percentage8:2.14
Seats8:1
Last Election8:1
Map:Elecciones legislativas de El Salvador de 2012 - Resultados por Departamento.svg

Legislative and local elections were held in El Salvador on 11 March 2012[1] to choose 84 members of the legislative assembly and 262 mayors. The election was carried out by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. The opposition Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) narrowly defeated the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) and its ally Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA).

Background

Following the 2009 presidential election, the first ever president from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), Mauricio Funes, was elected following the end of the Salvadoran civil war.

This election was seen as a test of Funes' government since it was the first election since he came to power. Prior to the election, the FMLN controlled the Legislative Assembly in alliance with Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA), dissidents from the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).

Parties

In addition to ARENA, FMLN and GANA, six smaller parties fielded candidates. ARENA is led by Alfredo Cristiani, a former president during the civil war; FMLN is led by Medardo González, a former guerrilla chief; and GANA is led by former member of ARENA and president Elías Antonio Saca.

The National Conciliation Party and the Christian Democratic Party were both dissolved by a Supreme Court of Justice verdict in 2011. Technically, they would have been deregistered after their electoral setback in 2004 (less than 3%), but a 2005 decree saved them from being folded and allowed them to carry on. The Supreme Court ruled this decree to be unconstitutional and eventually disbanded the parties. However, both parties continued their political work and registered as the National Coalition and Party of Hope, respectively.

Campaign

ARENA's campaign issues included a tough response to criminal and youth gangs, which was a concern with 14 murders a day, according to government figures. FMLN campaigned on promises of social programmes and job creation, where unemployment is 34% (though down from 40% before Funes took office).

In January, Funes appointed army General Francisco Salinas to replace Carlos Ascencio, who had resigned to join the foreign service, as head of the national police. For this, Funes was criticised by members of his own party who alleged that appointing someone from the military to head the police was in contravention of both the Constitution of El Salvador and the Chapultepec Peace Accords.[2]

Opinion polls

The Central American University carried out an opinion poll which showed the FMLN alliance was leading with 27.8%, but closely followed by ARENA with 26.4%. According to a CID-Gallup poll for the daily newspaper La Página, carried out from 16 to 19 February, ARENA had the support of 34% of voters, FMLN followed with 32% of the voters and GANA, a faction of ARENA, was third with 10% of the voters.

Results

The voting stations were scheduled to open from 7:00 to 17:00, but many opened late.[3] After voting, Funes called on the electorate to help him "guarantee that the changes that are taking place are strengthened, and not turned back."

Legislative election

Municipal elections

The election also chose mayors of 262 towns and cities.[4]

After the polls closed, but before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal had published the official results, ARENA candidate and the incumbent mayor Norman Quijano declared himself winner of the mayoral race in the capital, San Salvador. He beat the FMLN's Jorge Shafick Handal, the son of former FMLN leader Schafik Handal.

Of the 14 district capitals, ARENA won control of nine town halls, FMLN won control of three town halls, while GANA and the National Coalition each won control of one town hall.

By municipality

DepartmentsMunicipalitiesMayorPartyMargin%
San Salvadoralign=left colspan=2San SalvadorNorman QuijanoARENA52,588
align=left colspan=2Ciudad DelgadoFMLN/CD***347
align=left colspan=2MejicanosARENA599
align=left colspan=2SoyapangoARENA267
align=left colspan=2CuscatancingoFMLN3,342
align=left colspan=2San MarcosFMLN514
align=left colspan=2IlopangoARENA668
align=left colspan=2NejapaFMLN248
align=left colspan=2ApopaARENA3,107
align=left colspan=2San MartinARENA406
align=left colspan=2PanchimalcoFMLN2,947
align=left colspan=2AguilaresFMLN/CD***91
align=left colspan=2TonacatepequeARENA2,495
align=left colspan=2Santo TomásARENA1,81147.73%
align=left colspan=2Santiago TexacuangosARENA1,029
align=left colspan=2El PaisnalFMLN1,27960.43%
align=left colspan=2GuazapaCN800
align=left colspan=2AyutuxtepequeARENA416
align=left colspan=2Rosario de MoraFMLN637
Santa Anaalign=left colspan=2Santa AnaFMLN/CD***399
align=left colspan=2ChalchuapaFMLN2,831
align=left colspan=2MetapánCN2,101
align=left colspan=2CoatepequeARENA992
align=left colspan=2El CongoCN466
align=left colspan=2TexistepequePES36136.69%
align=left colspan=2Candelaria de la FronteraARENA4,208
align=left colspan=2San Sebastián SalitrilloFMLN355
align=left colspan=2Santa Rosa GuachipilínARENA91
align=left colspan=2Santiago de la FronteraARENA905
align=left colspan=2El PorvenirCN486
align=left colspan=2MasahuatCN187
align=left colspan=2San Antonio PajonalARENA37757.22%
San Miguelalign=left colspan=2San MiguelGANA7,307
align=left colspan=2ChinamecaARENA971
align=left colspan=2El TránsitoFMLN48638.07%
align=left colspan=2Ciudad BarriosPES88335.5%
align=left colspan=2ChirilaguaARENA29947.45%
align=left colspan=2SesoriCN/PES***8
align=left colspan=2San Rafael OrienteGANA26232.99%
align=left colspan=2MoncaguaFMLN1,231
align=left colspan=2LolotiqueFMLN13233.09%
align=left colspan=2San JorgeFMLN394
align=left colspan=2ChapeltiqueCD88542.69%
align=left colspan=2San GerardoARENA849.92%
align=left colspan=2CarolinaARENA40753.74%
align=left colspan=2QuelepaFMLN36853.31%
align=left colspan=2San Luis de la ReinaFMLN41352.09%
align=left colspan=2Nuevo Edén de San JuanARENA12
align=left colspan=2Nueva GuadalupeFMLN13835.31%
align=left colspan=2UluazapaFMLN5149.86%
align=left colspan=2ComacaránFMLN78369.3%
align=left colspan=2San Antonio del MoscoARENA560
La Libertadalign=left colspan=2Santa TeclaFMLN/CD***648
align=left colspan=2QuezaltepequeARENA164
align=left colspan=2Ciudad ArceFMLN/CD***16752.86%
align=left colspan=2San Juan OpicoARENA1,163
align=left colspan=2ColónARENA4,527
align=left colspan=2La LibertadFMLN/PES***731
align=left colspan=2Antiguo CuscatlánARENA9,66674.34%
align=left colspan=2ComasaguaFMLN35642.14%
align=left colspan=2San Pablo TacachicoFMLN285
align=left colspan=2JayaqueARENA88756.53%
align=left colspan=2HuizúcarARENA69053.45%
align=left colspan=2TepecoyoGANA403
align=left colspan=2TeotepequeARENA1,090
align=left colspan=2ChiltiupánARENA1,37762.23%
align=left colspan=2Nuevo CuscatlánNayib BukeleFMLN/CD***108
align=left colspan=2TamaniqueARENA1,52052.18%
align=left colspan=2SacacoyoARENA1,42259.87%
align=left colspan=2San José VillanuevaCN42035.61%
align=left colspan=2ZaragozaCN42
align=left colspan=2TalniqueARENA978
align=left colspan=2San MatíasARENA67250.94%
align=left colspan=2JicalapaARENA1,175
Usulutánalign=left colspan=2UsulutánCN82
align=left colspan=2JiquiliscoFMLN4,469
align=left colspan=2BerlínCN267
align=left colspan=2Santiago de MaríaCN553
align=left colspan=2JucuapaFMLN510
align=left colspan=2Santa Elena ·FMLN1,074
align=left colspan=2JucuaránFMLN28239.64%
align=left colspan=2San AgustínFMLN32953.75%
align=left colspan=2OzatlánFMLN21050.37%
align=left colspan=2EstanzuelasFMLN6039.38%
align=left colspan=2Mercedes UmañaFMLN378
align=left colspan=2AlegríaFMLN1,591
align=left colspan=2Concepción BatresFMLN412
align=left colspan=2San Francisco JavierFMLN76
align=left colspan=2Puerto El TriunfoCD371
align=left colspan=2TecapánFMLN3650.26%
align=left colspan=2San DionisioARENA49243.76%
align=left colspan=2EreguayquínARENA33952.35%
align=left colspan=2Santa MaríaARENA747
align=left colspan=2Nueva GranadaARENA43555.12%
align=left colspan=2El Triunfo·ARENA54949.3%
align=left colspan=2San BuenaventuraFMLN250
align=left colspan=2CaliforniaARENA50770.45%
Sonsonatealign=left colspan=2SonsonateARENA7,206
align=left colspan=2IzalcoARENA597
align=left colspan=2AcajutlaFMLN3,014
align=left colspan=2ArmeniaARENA4,08263.96%
align=left colspan=2NahuizalcoFMLN2,90141.85%
align=left colspan=2JuayúaCN1,17127.76%
align=left colspan=2San JuliánFMLN39437.17%
align=left colspan=2SonzacateARENA765
align=left colspan=2San Antonio del MonteCD679
align=left colspan=2NahuilingoARENA565
align=left colspan=2CuisnahuatFMLN3836.09%
align=left colspan=2Santa Catarina MasahuatFMLN/CD***203
align=left colspan=2CalucoCN74941.96%
align=left colspan=2Santa Isabel IshuatánARENA818
align=left colspan=2SalcoatitánPES12227.3%
align=left colspan=2Santo Domingo de GuzmanCN108
La Uniónalign=left colspan=2La UniónARENA2,698
align=left colspan=2Santa Rosa de LimaARENA217
align=left colspan=2PasaquinaGANA48
align=left colspan=2San AlejoARENA1,068
align=left colspan=2AnamorósFMLN126
align=left colspan=2El CarmenGANA51937.42%
align=left colspan=2ConchaguaARENA14239.36%
align=left colspan=2El SauceGANA2534.91%
align=left colspan=2LisliqueARENA1,677
align=left colspan=2YucuaiquínARENA188
align=left colspan=2Nueva EspartaARENA17540.54%
align=left colspan=2PolorósARENA306
align=left colspan=2BolivarARENA77562.43%
align=left colspan=2Concepción de Oriente ·ARENA40949.74%
align=left colspan=2IntipucáARENA36946.69%
align=left colspan=2San Jose las FuentesARENA100
align=left colspan=2YayantiqueARENA63744.24%
align=left colspan=2Meanguera del GolfoARENA22758.64%
La Pazalign=left colspan=2ZacatecolucaFMLN5,084
align=left colspan=2Santiago NonualcoGANA481
align=left colspan=2San Juan NonualcoARENA295
align=left colspan=2San Pedro MasahuatFMLN905
align=left colspan=2OlocuiltaARENA1,920
align=left colspan=2San Pedro NonualcoFMLN265
align=left colspan=2San Francisco ChinamecaARENA18839.35%
align=left colspan=2San Juan TalpaGANA590
align=left colspan=2El RosarioFMLN419
align=left colspan=2San Rafael ObrajueloARENA1,188
align=left colspan=2Santa María OstumaARENA632
align=left colspan=2San Luis TalpaGANA1,222
align=left colspan=2San Antonio MasahuatARENA18439.87%
align=left colspan=2San Miguel TepezontesCN60
align=left colspan=2San Juan TepezontesCN3448.1%
align=left colspan=2TapalhuacaFMLN29243.27%
align=left colspan=2CuyultitánARENA4932.47%
align=left colspan=2Paraíso de OsorioCN147.21%
align=left colspan=2San EmigdioFMLN1235.67%
align=left colspan=2JerusalénFMLN23756.56%
align=left colspan=2Mercedes La CeibaGANA42871.01%
align=left colspan=2San Luis La HerraduraFMLN1,521
Chalatenangoalign=left colspan=2ChalatenangoARENA439
align=left colspan=2Nueva ConcepciónFMLN8141.17%
align=left colspan=2La PalmaFMLN261
align=left colspan=2TejutlaCN882
align=left colspan=2La ReinaCN395
align=left colspan=2ArcataoFMLN223
align=left colspan=2San IgnacioARENA256
align=left colspan=2Dulce Nombre de MaríaARENA4242.06%
align=left colspan=2CitaláARENA1,03059.28%
align=left colspan=2Agua CalienteARENA35238.2%
align=left colspan=2Concepción QuezaltepequeFMLN22252.01%
align=left colspan=2Nueva TrinidadFMLN36468.09%
align=left colspan=2Las VueltasFMLN63086%
align=left colspan=2ComalapaARENA45858.11%
align=left colspan=2San RafaelARENA3927.53%
align=left colspan=2Las FloresFMLN61188.25%
align=left colspan=2Ojos de AguaARENA34841.02%
align=left colspan=2Nombre de JesúsFMLN39257.96%
align=left colspan=2PotonicoARENA1150.04%
align=left colspan=2San Francisco MorazánARENA13439.22%
align=left colspan=2Santa RitaARENA60662.21%
align=left colspan=2La LagunaARENA168
align=left colspan=2San Isidro LabradorFMLN15871.34%
align=left colspan=2San Antonio de la CruzFMLN13055.34%
align=left colspan=2El ParaísoARENA12437.45%
align=left colspan=2San Miguel de MercedesCN80575.43%
align=left colspan=2San Luis del CarmenFMLN14350.07%
align=left colspan=2San José CancasqueFMLN4250.94%
align=left colspan=2San Antonio Los RanchosFMLN30676.37%
align=left colspan=2El CarrizalFMLN32959.53%
align=left colspan=2San FernandoARENA6052.25%
align=left colspan=2AzacualpaFMLN14258.15%
align=left colspan=2San Francisco LempaFMLN2136.95%
Cuscatlánalign=left colspan=2CojutepequeARENA3,079
align=left colspan=2SuchitotoFMLN3,730
align=left colspan=2San Pedro PerulapánFMLN3,33743.4%
align=left colspan=2San José GuayabalARENA75152.88%
align=left colspan=2TenancingoFMLN13344.4%
align=left colspan=2San Rafael CedrosARENA291
align=left colspan=2CandelariaCN1,745
align=left colspan=2El CarmenARENA79949.98%
align=left colspan=2Monte San JuanPES60534.51%
align=left colspan=2San CristobalARENA398
align=left colspan=2Santa Cruz MichapaCN14136.99%
align=left colspan=2San Bartolomé PerulapíaFMLN146
align=left colspan=2San RamonARENA4041.2%
align=left colspan=2El RosarioARENA31544.9%
align=left colspan=2Oratorio de ConcepciónCN13935.6%
align=left colspan=2Santa Cruz AnalquitoGANA46461.41%
Ahuachapánalign=left colspan=2AhuachapánARENA5,395
align=left colspan=2AtiquizayaARENA1,049
align=left colspan=2San Francisco MenéndezPES1,188
align=left colspan=2TacubaARENA167
align=left colspan=2Concepción de AtacoARENA1,22954.55%
align=left colspan=2JujutlaARENA2,398
align=left colspan=2GuaymangoFMLN1,793
align=left colspan=2ApanecaARENA944
align=left colspan=2San Pedro PuxtlaFMLN/CD***850.36%
align=left colspan=2San LorenzoFMLN434
align=left colspan=2TurínCN1,390
align=left colspan=2El RefugioARENA49342.68%
Morazánalign=left colspan=2San Francisco GoteraARENA3,21056.94%
align=left colspan=2JocoroFMLN796
align=left colspan=2CorintoARENA1,30554.08%
align=left colspan=2SociedadFMLN450
align=left colspan=2CacaoperaFMLN280
align=left colspan=2GuatajiaguaARENA25934.09%
align=left colspan=2El DivisaderoFMLN907
align=left colspan=2JocoaitiqueARENA10852.06%
align=left colspan=2OsicalaGANA436
align=left colspan=2ChilangaARENA407
align=left colspan=2MeangueraFMLN573
align=left colspan=2TorolaFMLN30
align=left colspan=2San SimonFMLN46142%
align=left colspan=2Delicias de ConcepciónGANA2449.6%
align=left colspan=2JoatecaGANA7850.38%
align=left colspan=2ArambalaFMLN13340.09%
align=left colspan=2LolotiquilloARENA41655.02%
align=left colspan=2YamabalARENA6937.76%
align=left colspan=2YoloaiquínARENA714
align=left colspan=2San CarlosARENA46151.99%
align=left colspan=2El RosarioGANA839.24%
align=left colspan=2PerquínFMLN17841.59%
align=left colspan=2SensembraARENA271
align=left colspan=2GualococtiARENA19545.3%
align=left colspan=2San FernandoGANA134
align=left colspan=2San IsidroFMLN23750.94%
San Vicentealign=left colspan=2San VicenteARENA6,386
align=left colspan=2TecolucaFMLN1,025
align=left colspan=2San SebastiánARENA1,21053.54%
align=left colspan=2ApastepequeGANA1,356
align=left colspan=2San Esteban CatarinaFMLN507
align=left colspan=2San IldefonsoFMLN93
align=left colspan=2Santa ClaraFMLN11952.28%
align=left colspan=2San LorenzoFMLN371
align=left colspan=2VerapazFMLN132
align=left colspan=2GuadalupeCN/PES***4
align=left colspan=2Santo DomingoCN/PES***7
align=left colspan=2San Cayetano IstepequeARENA6949.28%
align=left colspan=2TepetitánFMLN7440.46%
Cabañasalign=left colspan=2SensuntepequeARENA5,394
align=left colspan=2IlobascoARENA2,78048.35%
align=left colspan=2VictoriaARENA722
align=left colspan=2San IsidroARENA64142.71
align=left colspan=2JutiapaARENA1,27563.74%
align=left colspan=2TejutepequeARENA169
align=left colspan=2DoloresARENA8450.44%
align=left colspan=2CinqueraFMLN3949.45%
align=left colspan=2GuacotectiCN28034.39%
  • Incumbent.
    **Department capitals.
    ***Joint candidates.
align=left colspan=2Totals262
align=left colspan=8Source: Supreme Electoral Tribunal (pdf)

Reaction

San Salvador's re-elected mayor Norman Quijano called the result "historic" and announced that the party was "going to turn the country around."

Analysis

A strong showing for ARENA was read as a hindrance to Funes' implementation of his social programmes.[5]

The president and his FMLN administration are likely to be dependent on the support of GANA, which has already helped the government with passing fiscal reform bills during the last legislators' term. The Christian Science Monitor read the result as a "litmus test" for President Mauricio Funes before the next presidential election.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Organization of American States . Oas.org . 1 August 2009 . 12 March 2012.
  2. Web site: Salvadoran President Funes criticised for police choice . BBC . 24 January 2012 . 12 March 2012.
  3. Web site: AFP: Right-wing party holds slim lead in El Salvador vote . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609205929/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jMRW9iaWe12XcfwhZUelbsYXS7ow?docId=CNG.090728e91af8c24829823905a8a54378.f1 . dead . 9 June 2012 . 12 March 2012.
  4. Web site: Right-wing party leads in Salvadoran polls – Americas . Al Jazeera English . 4 October 2011 . 12 March 2012.
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17335702 El Salvador election: Arena party on course for win
  6. El Salvador elections: Another test for Latin America's left. Christian Science Monitor. 12 March 2012.