LEFTIST candidates did surprisingly well in elections in El Salvador and Costa Rica on February 2nd. Though not well enough to avoid second-round run-offs in the next few months, the results are likely to rattle the conservative bastions of Central America.
The almost ten-point lead that Salvador Sánchez Cerén, a former guerrilla of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) in El Salvador, took over his right-wing rival was well beyond the margin of victory expected by most pollsters. However, his 48.9%, with almost all votes counted, was just shy of the 50% plus one vote he needed for a first-round victory.
Even more of a shock was the wafer-thin lead that political outsider Luis Guillermo Solís took in Costa Rica, after focusing his campaign on government corruption. Polls had mostly put the former diplomat in fourth place in the run-up to the elections, constantly below another left-leaning candidate, José Maria Villalta. Mr Villalta came in third, but if their supporters unite they could oust the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN) candidate in the run-off. Mr Solís had 31%, the PLN’s Johnny Araya 29.6% and Mr Villalta 17.1%.
There were a few common elements to both elections. Corruption allegations against members of their party may have turned voters against Mr Araya in Costa Rica, and Norman Quijano, candidate of the right-wing...Continue reading
from Americas view http://ift.tt/1k49WnM
No comments:
Post a Comment