Since the end of the twelve-year civil war in 1992, El Salvador has made important progress in advancing national reconciliation, political reform and electoral transparency. At the same time, high rates of crime, poverty, inequality and unemployment, along with declining citizen satisfaction with public institutions and political parties, present significant challenges for the country’s continued democratic consolidation.
In 2009, El Salvador’s municipal, legislative and presidential elections were held in the same year for the first time since 1994. El Salvador’s two largest parties, the Nationalist Republican Alliance party (Alianza Republicana Nacionalista, ARENA) and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional, FMLN), dominated the elections as they have since the 1992 peace agreement.
Political Context
Legislative and municipal elections took place on January 18, 2009. The FMLN gained ground to win a plurality in the National Assembly with a total of 35 out of 84 seats, earning nearly 90,000 votes more than the ARENA party, which lost two seats. Contrary to poll predictions, ARENA’s candidate defeated the incumbent mayor of San Salvador, ending 12 years of FMLN administration of the capital city. Although ARENA again won more municipalities than any other party, the FMLN was the only party to increase its number of municipalities compared to the 2006 elections.
The March 15 presidential election marked a new stage in the consolidation of Salvadoran democracy as the FMLN won the presidency for the first time since it became a political party in 1992. After five consecutive ARENA presidential terms, voters elected FMLN candidate and independent journalist Mauricio Funes as the country’s president by a clear margin of 2.4%, embracing Funes’ message of “safe change” (Cambio Seguro). Despite widespread fears of violence erupting during this sharply polarized contest, election day unfolded peacefully and only minor incidents were reported.
While not without challenges, international and domestic election observers favorably assessed the generally peaceful 2009 elections. Observers noted various areas for reform such as stronger enforcement of electoral code regulations on campaign periods and restrictions on election-day partisan activity in polling centers. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral, TSE) has expressed interest in expanding residential voting nationally as a means of strengthening citizen participation. However, limited progress in the implementation of recommendations made by the Organization of American States (OAS) to improve access to the voter registry and concerns expressed by Salvadoran citizen groups about the accuracy of the registry continues to hinder citizen confidence in the integrity of the registry. The National Assembly now has the opportunity to address several of these reforms.
The executive branch transition from ARENA to FMLN has opened new dialogue between the parties and has demonstrated a constructive alternation of power. Although the FMLN won the presidency and a congressional plurality, the split in National Assembly seats will force the incoming FMLN administration to reach out to other Salvadoran political parties, including ARENA, to construct a legislative majority to address El Salvador’s significant economic and security challenges.
Domestic Election Observation
NDI supported the transparency of the Salvadoran 2009 elections by helping impartial Salvadoran election observer groups implement a systematic and coordinated nationwide approach to monitoring the pre-election and election-day processes. On election day, the presence of nonpartisan domestic monitors at polling sites can deter irregularities and intimidation of voters. Nonpartisan observer groups often have the political credibility and unique systematic information to help resolve conflicts that may occur as results are finalized and to advocate for any necessary legal reform. Following the elections, NDI is working to foster broad-based citizen dialogue and support for electoral reform.
NDI worked with the University Institute of Public Opinion (Instituto Universitario de Opinión Pública, IUDOP) at the Central American University; the Social Initiative for Democracy (Iniciativa Social para la Democracia, ISD); and the National Foundation for Development (Fundación Nacional para el Desarrollo, FUNDE). IUDOP carried out a national parallel vote tabulation (PVT or “quick count”), a proven methodology using a statistically random sample of polling station data; ISD monitored the role of television and written media by observing the quality and coverage of information offered to the public; and FUNDE monitored parties’ campaign advertising expenses in order to propose reforms aimed at greater transparency.
Prior to the electoral process, NDI supported the organizational development of Salvadoran election observation groups by sharing international best practices for monitoring pre-election and election-day conditions. NDI helped bolster the internal organizational capacity of Salvador national election observers in several areas, including: decision-making, division of labor, project planning, recruitment and training of nonpartisan domestic observer volunteers, and outreach strategies.
Barriers to Political Participation
NDI is working with a Salvadoran civil society group to conduct a study designed to strengthen citizen participation by analyzing attitudes towards democracy. The study will collect systematic data to analyze non-participation trends and identify obstacles to greater citizen involvement in political processes, particularly among marginalized groups such as women and youth.
Past Programs
Citizen Dialogue
In 1995, NDI organized a series of discussion groups in El Salvador designed to improve communication and interaction between local government officials and community leaders as well as support the development of mechanisms for citizen participation.
Electoral Study Mission
In 1989, NDI sponsored an electoral study mission to El Salvador in the lead up to the March presidential elections. The study produced by electoral experts and regional specialists from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the United States served as a point of reference for international observers on the newly-enacted Electoral Code reforms and administrative preparations for the elections.
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
El Salvador
Alison Miranda, Resident Representative
+503 2266 0565
Washington, D.C.
Wendy Ramirez, Senior Program Officer
(202) 728-6318
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