Positive Reactions from the US Government Regarding the Salvadoran Presidential Election
The US position towards the outcome of the Salvadoran presidential elections has been clear, strong and positive, despite asseverations from the ARENA campaign -backed by Republican US Congresspeople- that a victory of the FMLN would damage El Salvador-US relations.
Robert Blau, Charge d'Affaires of the US embassy to El Salvador, congratulated Mauricio Funes personally on the evening of Election Day after preliminary results showed that Funes was the new President-elect. "Mauricio Funes has won in a fair and free election. We have said many times that our intention is to continue with the good relations with El Salvador from government to government, and from people to people", Mr. Blau said, according to an Embassy news article.
Below is a recollection of statements from US government officials regarding the outcome of the Salvadoran election:
President Back Obama Calls Mauricio Funes
Last Wednesday March 18, three days after the presidential elections, US President Barack Obama called President-elect Mauricio Funes to congratulate him for winning the election. According to an Associated Press article, President Obama discussed with Funes his desire to work together on the global economic crisis, energy cooperation and security.
Tom Shannon: US Reaffirms Positive Relations with El Salvador
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon, visited El Salvador on Wednesday, March 15. Mr. Shannon held meetings with current President Antonio Saca, President-elect Mauricio Funes, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marisol Argueta de Barillas, and ARENA's former presidential candidate Rodrigo Ávila.
According to a US Embassy' news article, Mr. Shannon said that "the most important thing is to highlight our countries' common interests and to guarantee good relations between people who are willing to cooperate and get good results. We want to be partners with El Salvador, we consider there is good faith and we are willing to work together." During the meeting with Funes, Shannon reiterated his desire to "further strengthen the solid relationship between the two countries."
State Department Congratulates the People of El Salvador
In a daily press briefing, Robert Wood, acting State Department spokesman, congratulated the people of El Salvador for "a very free, fair, and democratic election." Mr. Wood also congratulated Mauricio Funes and Rodrigo Ávila for "participating in the election and for respecting the election results." According to Mr. Wood, the State Department looks forward to working with the new government of El Salvador.
To see the excerpt from the daily press briefing, please click here.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) Issues Press Release Regarding the Salvadoran Elections:
On March 16, Congressman Jim McGovern released the following statement:
"Sixteen years after the historic signing of the Peace Accords, we have witnessed the full transformation of the FMLN into a leading political actor with the election of Mauricio Funes as the next president of El Salvador. I commend the people of El Salvador for their massive participation in this vote, which according to media reports occurred calmly and professionally throughout the country. I have been deeply engaged on Salvadoran issues for over 25 years. I know full well how closely our two nations are linked. I look forward to working with President-elect Funes and continuing the strong, respectful and mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries."
Other Resources:
Read the LA Times' article "El Salvador Elects First Leftist President" for comprehensive coverage on the Salvadoran elections.
Read the article "El Salvador's Left Wins Historic Election" by the Co-Director of The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).
Read SHARE Foundation's preliminary election delegation report.
Read NLG's preliminary election observation report.
THANK YOU for your advocacy efforts which helped to convince the US government to take a stand in favor of free and fair elections!
- Claudia Rodriguez Alas, DC Policy Office Director
