Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad

San Salvador, January 29, 2009

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Final Results for Mayoral, City Council, And Legislative Assembly January 18, 2009 elections.

Municipal Elections- Elect all 262 Municipal mayors and City councils.*  In El Salvador there is no proportional representation on city councils, and the political party with the most votes wins the mayoral position and all city council posts.

 *One municipality (San Augustine) is having a runoff election as there was a tie with both the FMLN and ARENA receiving 887 votes each the on January 18th – a runoff election between these two parties will be held this Sunday, 1st February.
 
Deputies to National Assembly (Legislative Elections).  All 84 seats to the legislative assembly were elected on January 18, 2009.

National vote (Legislative Elections)

 
Some comments about the results:

• Although the FMLN now has more deputies than any other party, no party has a clear majority (43) needed for most legislation (some legislation requires a 2/3 majority); however, an ARENA/PCN alliance in the legislative assembly would achieve a simple majority of 43.
• Although the FMLN obtained more of the national vote than ARENA, the figures also show that no party obtained more than 50% of the total valid votes (necessary to win in the Presidential elections)
• It is expected that more voters will turn out for the Presidential elections in March than did in January and that significant numbers of voters will change their choice of party for the March elections.  Therefore the results of the January elections are not a decisive indicator as to the outcome in March.  However, in considering how voters may align for the Presidential elections, it is interesting to note that the combined votes for the legislative elections of the FMLN, PDC, CD & FDR total 1,166,672 (52.66%); combined votes of ARENA & PCN total 1,048,917 (47.34%). 

You can find details about the results on the Supreme Electoral Tribunal's website:  http://www.tse.gob.sv/page.php?50 

U.S. Based multi-nationals attempt to sway vote in El Salvador 

RAF Business Group is a big business in El Salvador.  According to their website, they have over 100 branches in the country, and offer such services as production of photo ID’s, microfilm services, digitalization of documents, studio and conventional photography, graphic arts services and a line of pharmaceutical and advanced medical treatment supplies and services such as pressure bandages and breast implants.  They describe their company as “your digital world”.   RAF has dealership rights with some of the biggest names in photography and print reproduction:  Kodak, Canon, Nikon, AB Dick, and Dell.

Luis Alfredo Rosales Alfaro founded the company in 1953, using the experience obtained during a stay in the United States.  As a RAF employee, when you receive a letter from Luis Ernesto Rosales, the son of the founder, you pay attention.  On January 15, 2009, Luis E. Rosales sent a letter to his employees, published at the end of this analysis.  This letter has caused a stir in political circles in El Salvador, as it is a concrete example of what many people allege is a common practice.  In past election years, I have heard allegations of companies telling their employees that they will lose their jobs if the FMLN wins the election, or if they vote for the FMLN (I was an election observer in 2003, 2004 and 2006, and have been a frequent visitor to El Salvador.)

As we review the letter of Luis Ernesto, we can see the familiar themes of the dirty campaign: the godless, atheistic party; the specter of the hard life of Cubans, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans; appeals to “Salvadoran” virtues that, according to Luis Ernest, are not shared by the party that threatens to take the presidency from ARENA,   It is an attempt to confuse people, to get them to support the party of an oligarchy that has ruled El Salvador for 500 years.  The admonition about the “punishment vote”, which follows an implied threat that businesses will not succeed with a new government, is a pointed entreaty by the boss to obey the wisdom of he who knows best.  It is a letter designed to generate fear and spread misinformation.  It contains the logos of Kodak, Dell, Lexmark and Canon.  Did these companies agree to the content?  Luis Ernesto speaks of “godlessness” and free enterprise, but the freedom he espouses is limited to those who have the means to purchase it.  The majority of Salvadorans have not prospered under this system that has benefited the small group who control so much of the wealth of El Salvador.

In a crowded and voting center, where your vote is only as secret as the cardboard voting booth open to the world can provide secrecy, such warnings from above will echo in the minds of employees.  How often do they have to hear about the greatness of the founder and the steadfastness of Luis Ernesto?  ARENA is pulling out all the stops this election year, and their corporate friends, including RAF, are helping to the limits of the law and perhaps beyond.  Article 3 of the Salvadoran Electoral Code specifies that “The vote is Free, Direct, Egalitarian and Secret.”  The pressure campaign at Grupo RAF, exemplified by this letter, is a violation of the spirit of this mandate, if not the letter of the law.   

The following is a translation of the letter that is the subject of the above commentary.

Grupo RAF

15th of January, 2009, Antiguo Cuscatlán

Next Sunday, the 18th of January, the elections for Mayors and Deputies will be held.  I consider it necessary and timely to share with you the following reflections. In the first place I encourage you all to go out to vote, not only because it is our right and our duty, but because we cannot permit others to decide our future and the future of our children. 

During its 55 years of existence, our business has grown.  Thanks to those of you who have accompanied us with your efforts during 10, 15 , 30 or more years while enjoying stability in your work.  The job is what permits us to support our families, educate our children and assure a dignified retirement.  At RAF we have been able to generate and maintain jobs, in good measure thanks to this country that has had a system that favors free enterprise. Notwithstanding, that can change drastically if we make an error in electing our representative and government leaders.

Much is heard of the "punishment vote", that is to say a vote against the leadership of the government party, to punish its leaders. Such behavior, as has happened in Nicaragua and Venezuela, will only bring on a punishment of ourselves.  It is enough to see how the quality of life has deteriorated in those countries where the people have voted for "a change".  The changes are beneficial only in those countries where where all of the parties are democratic and respectful of the Rule of Law.

We Salvadorans have demonstrated our intelligence, we know perfectly what is not wise.  Proof of that is that when due to necessity Salvadorans emigrate, they go in the majority to the United States, not to Cuba, Venezuela, or much less, to Nicaragua. Let's not kid ourselves, one of the parties in contention is allied with the parties that govern in those countries.

The vast majority of Salvadorans believe in God. In the heart of those people who do not believe in God, nothing good can exist.  We cannot permit atheists to become the government of our country.  High leaders of one of the parties in contention have declared themselves publicly to be atheists.

Never has our business been connected to a determined political party, nor will it be a requirement to maintain a position.  Nevertheless, personally speaking, I believe that we can err in giving our vote to a political party that in its documents declares itself the enemy of private enterprise. One item is that its candidate in his advertisements says one thing and its leaders and official literature say something else.

I ask that Jesus give us light to elect as our representatives and government officials those who would permit us to continue working and to choose a better future for us and our descendants.

Luis E. Rosales, Executive President