Manuel Flores (Salvadoran politician) explained

Manuel Flores
Term Start:4 August 2024
Term Start1:1 May 2012
Term End1:1 May 2021
Term Start2:1 May 2003
Term End2:1 May 2012
Predecessor2:Roberto Argüello
Successor2:Carlos Antonio Figueroa
Birth Name:Juan Manuel de Jesús Flores Cornejo
Birth Date:15 October 1965
Birth Place:Quezaltepeque, El Salvador
Occupation:Politician
Nickname:El Chino

Juan Manuel de Jesús Flores Cornejo (born 15 October 1965), nicknamed "El Chino" (Spanish for "The Chinese One"), is a Salvadoran politician who has served as the secretary-general of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) since 2024. Flores served as the mayor of Quezaltepeque from 2003 to 2012 and then later as a deputy of the Legislative Assembly from La Libertad from 2012 to 2021. He was the presidential candidate for the FMLN in the 2024 general election with running mate was Werner Marroquín. He lost in a landslide to incumbent President Nayib Bukele, accumulating only 6.40 percent of the vote. Flores supports El Salvador further strengthening relations with the People's Republic of China.

Early life

Juan Manuel de Jesús Flores Cornejo was born on 15 October 1965[1] in Quezaltepeque, El Salvador.[2] He has a degree in biology.

Political career

Mayor of Quezaltepeque

In the 2000 legislative election, Flores was elected as a member of the Quezaltepeque municipal council.[3] In the 2003 municipal election, Flores was elected as the municipality's mayor,[4] succeeding FMLN mayor Roberto Argüello.[5] Flores was re-elected as mayor in 2006[6] and 2009.[7]

Deputy of the Legislative Assembly

In the 2012 legislative election, Flores was elected as a deputy to the Legislative Assembly from the department of La Libertad, being the party's third deputy from the department. He was succeeded by Carlos Antonio Figueroa of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) as mayor of Quezaltepeque.[8] He was re-elected in the 2015 legislative election as the FMLN's 4th deputy from the department[9] and again in the 2018 legislative election as the party's second deputy from the department.[10]

Flores did not seek re-election in 2021 as FMLN party statutes prohibited deputies to seek three consecutive terms. Instead, Flores ran to be elected as a member of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) for the FMLN.[11] In an interview with La Prensa Gráfica, Flores stated that the member states of PARLACEN should give "real power" ("Spanish; Castilian: autonomía real") to the organization's deputies. Of the twenty seats El Salvador has in PARLACEN, the FMLN only won a single seat; Flores lost his bid to serve as the FMLN's deputy to PARLACEN to Karina Sosa.[12]

2024 presidential campaign

In September 2020, Flores stated that he will one day be the president of El Salvador and that he would be a better president than Nayib Bukele, who won the 2019 presidential election after being expelled from the FMLN in 2017. He described Bukele as "liar" ("Spanish; Castilian: mentiroso") and claimed that the Salvadoran population did not trust him.[13]

Prior to the 2024 general election, Flores showed interest in running for president with the FMLN. Flores asked the party to not select politicians with a "corrupt past" ("Spanish; Castilian: pasado corrupto") ahead of the party's primary elections for the presidential, legislative, municipal, and PARLACEN elections.[14] On 29 May 2023, Flores officially registered as a presidential pre-candidate with the FMLN, being the party's only candidate for president. Werner Marroquín was selected as his running mate.[15] [16] Flores stated that the FMLN would not form a coalition with any right-wing political parties, including ARENA.[17] On 16 July 2023, Flores was officially confirmed as the FMLN's presidential candidate.[18] On 7 September 2023, the FMLN began the process of registering Flores' and Marroquín's candidacies.[19]

Regarding Bukele's 2024 re-election campaign, Flores stated "the law is the law [and] the law says that there is no re-election" ("Spanish; Castilian: la ley es la ley [y] la ley dice que no hay reelección"). He added that the constitution is "clear" ("Spanish; Castilian: clara") that re-election is prohibited.[20] In August 2023, Flores stated that both he and the FMLN would be committed to fighting corruption.[21] In the election, Flores finished in second place with 204,167 votes—6.40 percent; Bukele won re-election with 84.65 percent of the vote.[22] Flores refused to concede the election, claiming that "they stole votes from me" ("Spanish; Castilian: me han robado votos").[23]

Secretary-General of the FMLN

In March 2024, Flores announced his intention to become the secretary-general of the FMLN.[24] His primary opponent is Simón Paz, the former mayor of Mejicanos from 2015 to 2021.[25] On 14 July, the FMLN named Flores as the winner with 60 percent of ballots counted.[26] He called for former members who left the FMLN to return to the party.[27] He will assume office when the FMLN confirms the results with the TSE.[28]

On 24 July 2024, Flores stated that the FMLN would win seats in the Legislative Assembly and municipal mayorships in the 2027 legislative election after the party lost all its legislative seats and municipalities in the 2024 election.[29] Flores became the party's secretary-general on 4 August 2024 at its 44th National Convention.[30]

Political views

Relations with China

Flores prefers having diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China over the Republic of China (Taiwan). In 2004, Flores established the Salvadoran Association of Friendship with the People of China (ASACHI). Flores has funded organizations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua which support relations with China, including the Central American Federation of Friendship with China.[31] Flores has previously served as El Salvador's ambassador to Taiwan. In 2018, Flores helped the Salvadoran government officially recognize the People's Republic of China as the legitimate government of China, severing its relations with Taiwan. Regarding China, Flores stated that "China is not an invader, it is not a colonizer".[32] In 2021, Flores celebrated China's donation of 150,000 COVID-19 vaccines to El Salvador.[33] In addition to China, Flores also supports strengthened relations with the State of Palestine and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Flores' nickname is "El Chino", Spanish for "The Chinese One".[34]

Electoral history

YearOfficeTypePartyMain opponentPartyVotes for FloresResultSwing
Total%.
2000Municipal Council of QuezaltepequeGeneralFMLNN/AN/A
2003Mayor of QuezaltepequeGeneralFMLN?ARENA??1stN/AHold
2006Mayor of QuezaltepequeGeneralFMLN?ARENA10,25057.421st?Hold
2009Mayor of QuezaltepequeGeneralFMLN?ARENA9,77848.881st–8.54Hold
2012Deputy of the Legislative AssemblyGeneralFMLNN/A3rdN/AN/A
2015Deputy of the Legislative AssemblyGeneralFMLNN/A4thN/AN/A
2018Deputy of the Legislative AssemblyGeneralFMLN–CDN/A2ndN/AN/A
2021Deputy of PARLACENGeneralFMLNN/A2ndN/AN/A
2024President of El SalvadorGeneralFMLNNayib BukeleNI204,1676.402ndN/AHold
2024Secretary-General of the FMLNInternalFMLNSimón PazFMLN5,54760.191stN/AN/A

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Juan Manuel de Jesús Flores Cornejo. es. 10 July 2023. El Faro.
  2. Web site: Quezaltepeque, El Lugar Donde Nací. Quezaltepeque, The Place I Was Born. es. 1 April 2018. 10 July 2023. Manuel El Chino Flores.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816191933/https://manuelchinoflores.com/quezaltepeque-el-lugar-donde-naci/. 16 August 2018. dead.
  3. Web site: Entrevista "Países Deben dar Autonomía Real a Diputados del PARLACEN": Manuel Flores, Candidato a Diputado por el PARLACEN. Interview "Countries Should Give Real Autonomy to PARLACEN Deputies": Manuel Flores, Candidate for Deputy to PARLACEN. es. 12 February 2021. 10 July 2023. La Prensa Gráfica. Ricardo. Flores.
  4. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2003. Special Memory – 2003 Elections. es. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. 128.
  5. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2000. Special Memory – 2000 Elections. es. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. 149. San Salvador, El Salvador.
  6. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2006. Special Memory – 2006 Elections. es. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. 209 & 235.
  7. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2009. Special Memory – 2009 Elections. es. June 2009. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. San Salvador, El Salvador. 64.
  8. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2012. Special Memory – 2012 Elections. es. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. 139 & 142.
  9. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2015. Special Memory – 2015 Elections. es. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. 136.
  10. Web site: Memoria Especial – Elecciones 2018. Special Memory – 2018 Elections. es. 10 July 2023. Supreme Electoral Court. 106.
  11. Web site: Cinco Diputados del FMLN y Dos de ARENA no Van por Reelección. Five Deputies from the FMLN and Two From ARENA Will Not Seek Re-Election. es. 22 June 2020. 10 July 2023. El Diario de Hoy. Eugenia. Velásquez.
  12. Web site: Salvadoreños Dejan Fuera al Chino Flores del PARLACEN. Salvadorans Leave Chino Flores of PARLACEN On the Outside. es. 3 March 2021. 10 July 2023. El Salvador Noticias. Helen. Ramos.
  13. Web site: Diputado Manuel Flores Asegura que Será Presidente de El Salvador y Mejor que Nayib Bukele. Deputy Manuel Flores Assures that He Will Be President of El Salvador and Better than Nayib Bukele. es. 4 September 2020. 10 July 2023. SV Trending.
  14. Web site: Manuel Flores Pide a FMLN No Elegir Candidatos con 'Pasado Corrupto'. Manuel Flores Asks the FMLN to Not Elect Candidates with a "Corrupt Past". es. 10 April 2023. 10 April 2023. Susana. Peñate. El Mundo.
  15. Web site: Exdiputado Manuel Flores se Inscribe como Precandidato Presidencial por el FMLN. Ex-Deputy Manuel Flores Registers as Presidential Pre-Candidate for the FMLN. es. 27 May 2023. 10 July 2023. El Mundo. Susana. Peñate.
  16. Web site: Flores, Único Precandidato a Presidencia por el FMLN. Flores, Only Pre-Candidate for the Presidency for the FMLN. es. 29 May 2023. 29 May 2023. La Prensa Gráfica. Verónica. Martínez.
  17. Web site: Precandidato Dice que FMLN no Hará Alianza con ARENA. Pre-Candidates Says that FMLN Will Not Have Alliance with ARENA. es. 29 May 2023. 29 May 2023. El Diario de Hoy. Mario. González.
  18. Web site: Seis Partidos Eligieron Ayer a sus Candidatos para Elecciones 2024. Six Parties Elected Their Candidates for the 2024 Elections Yesterday. es. 17 July 2023. 17 July 2023. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín. Leonardo. Cerón.
  19. Web site: FMLN Pide al TSE Inscribir a su Fórmula Presidencial para 2024. The FMLN Asks the TSE to Register Its Presidential Formula for 2024. es. 7 September 2023. 21 September 2023. El Diario de Hoy. Gabriela. Villarroel.
  20. Web site: Manuel Flores, Precandidato del FMLN, le Recuerda a Bukele que la Reelección es "Inconstitucional". Manuel Flores, Pre-Candidate of the FMLN, Reminds Bukele that Re-Election is "Unconstitutional". es. 26 June 2023. 26 June 2023. El Diario de Hoy. Lissette. Lemus.
  21. Web site: El "Chino" Flores Dice que el FMLN Combatirá "la corrupción". "Chino" Flores Says that the FMLN Will Combat "Corruption". es. 14 August 2023. 15 August 2023. Diario la Huella.
  22. Web site: En Vivo: Cierre de Escrutinio Final de la Elección de Presidente y Vicepresidente 2024. Live: The Final Tally of the 2024 Election for President and Vice President Closes. es. 9 February 2024. 9 February 2024. El Mundo.
  23. Web site: Manuel Flores del FMLN no Asume la Derrota: «Si me han Robado Votos». Manuel Flores of the FMLN Does Not Concede Defeat: "They Have Stolen Votes from Me". es. 19 February 2024. 7 March 2024. La Noticia SV. David. Morales. San Salvador, El Salvador.
  24. Web site: Manuel Flores Anuncia que Buscará la Dirigencia del FMLN. Manuel Flores Announces He Will Seek the Leadership of the FMLN. es. 7 March 2024. 7 March 2024. El Mundo. Iliana. Cornejo.
  25. Web site: Candidato a Secretario General del FMLN Habla Sobre la Crisis Interna del Instituto Político: «El Partido Necesita Unidad». Candidate for Secretary General of the FMLN Talks About the Internal Crisis of the Political Institution: "The Party Needs Unity". es. 3 July 2024. 5 July 2024. La Noticia SV. Griselda. López. San Salvador, El Salvador.
  26. Web site: Manuel Flores fue Electo Nuevo Secretario General del FMLN. Manuel Flores was Elected as the New Secretary-General of the FMLN. es. 15 July 2024. 15 July 2024. El Diario de Hoy. Susana. Peñate.
  27. Web site: Manuel «El Chino» Flores Pide a los que Abandonaron el Partido FMLN «Regresar, Porque la Familia es Así». Manuel "El Chino" Flores Asks Those Who Abandoned the FMLN Party to "Return, Because Family is Like That". es. 14 July 2024. 15 July 2024. La Noticia SV. Silvia. Hernández. El Salvador.
  28. Web site: El 57% de los Empadronados del FMLN Votaron para Elegir al Nuevo Secretario General. 57% of the FMLN's Member Votes to Elect a New Secretary-General. es. 16 July 2024. 16 July 2024. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín.
  29. Web site: Manuel Flores Asegura que el FMLN Tendrá Magistrado en el TSE «Nos Guste o No Nos Guste». Manuel Flores Assures that the FMLN Will Have a Magistrate on the TSE "Wether We Like It or Not". es. 24 July 2024. 25 July 2024. La Noticia SV. David. Morales. El Salvador.
  30. Web site: Manuel "El Chino" Flores Asume Dirección del FMLN: "El Pueblo no Necesita un FMLN Bravucón". Manuel "El Chino" Flores Assumes Leadership of the FMLN: "The People Does Not Need a Bully FMLN". es. 4 August 2024. 7 August 2024. El Mundo. Jessica. Guzmán.
  31. Web site: Entrevista Manuel Flores: "El Salvador Debe Mostrar Verdadera Lealtad y Confianza a China". Interview "El Salvador Should Demonstrate Truthful Loyalty and Confidence to China". es. 23 November 2020. 10 July 2023. La Prensa Gráfica. Ricardo. Flores.
  32. Web site: In Latin America's New Cold War, Will China Lift Up Autocrats?. en. 17 February 2022. 10 July 2023. Los Angeles Times. Kate. Linthicum. San Salvador, El Salvador.
  33. Web site: Diputado del FMLN Celebra Relaciones con China y Llegada de 150 Mil Vacunas Anti COVID-19. FMLN Deputy Celebrates Relations with China and the Arrival of 150 Thousand Anti COVID-19 Vaccines. es. 7 April 2021. 10 July 2023. Diario El Salvador. Santiago. Leiva.
  34. Web site: Los Precandidatos a Presidente, Diputados y Alcaldes del FMLN hacia 2024. The Pre-Candidates for President, Deputies, and Mayors for the FMLN for 2024. es. 11 July 2023. 11 July 2023. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Manuel Flores (Salvadoran politician)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.