FMLN leads in most recent poll
In recent public opinion polling by the University of Central America, and reported by El Faro, the FMLN leads all other parties in voter preferences for upcoming elections for president, city mayors and legislative deputies. The FMLN's lead is 7 percentage points over ARENA in all three categories:
Party | Mayors | Deputies | President |
FMLN | 31.5% | 32.3% | 34.5% |
ARENA | 25.4% | 25.2% | 27.0% |
PCN | 3.8% | 3.6% | 2.3% |
PDC | 3.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% |
CD | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0.6% |
FDR | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Another party | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
Don't know/my vote is a secret | 29.3% | 29.6% | 28.8% |
No one | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.1% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Persons polled were asked, if the election were this Sunday, which party they are likely to vote for in the three categories of races. Obviously a poll more than 14 months before any of these elections does not have a lot of predictive value, but it is interesting to see the FMLN with a strong lead, something which has not happened in recent years. This no doubt reflects the party's pragmatic choice of Mauricio Funes as a presidential candidate, combined with the population's growing disenchantment with ARENA's failure to address crime and economic problems. The FMLN may also be benefited by persons knowing Funes as the party's candidate, while ARENA has yet to create its presidential ticket.
Comments
In 2003 the FMLN was also ahead in the preference polls but then chose the former guerrilla commander Schafik Handal and then with combined with the systematic and dirty smear campaign that included lies and fear tactics about mass deportations of Salvadorans from the U.S. if the Handal won the FMLN lost in the first round. Would the FMLN have done better without ARENA and the U.S. smear and fear tactics? Probably. They might have even forced a second round, but truth be known, Handal was so hopelessly the wrong candidate that it's not certain the FMLN could have won. Hopefully Funes is a stronger and better candidate with more mainstream appeal.
http://www.diariocolatino.com/es/20071128/nacionales/49691/
Anonymous and FMLN are absolutely correct, therefore in denouncing any moves that would lead to the Elections Court appointing people to man the polling booths, as opposed to regular citizens nominated by each party, and who therefore form a genuine People's Poll Court —equilibrium and fairness are guaranteed by tens of thousands of regular people, with opposing views, working together and certifying each poll.
However, wasn't it the lefties who complained about today's system where the parties nominate citizens? And now they complain that the Elections Court would nominate?
What gives? Are they lunatics, or just demagogues?
I THINK WE HAVE HAD A TAYLOR MADE GOVERNMENT IN SACA. HE DOES NOT DO AHYTHING ON HIS OWN, FIRST BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE BRAINS OR THE POLITICAL FREDOM, OR BECAUSE HE IS JUST ANOTHER PUPET.
NOW, WHO IS THIS IRI?, A WHOLE BUNCH OF RIGHT WING WACKOS, RUSH LIMBO TYPES, BLACK WATER SUPPOTERS, KILLERS OF CHILDREN IN THE NAME OF WHAT?. LIBERTIES? LIBERTIES TO CORPORATIONS?
Regarding the polls Tim cites, I'd say it's about damn time the FMLN got a shot at governing El Sal. Lord knows ARENA has had its times at bat; I would hope, really hope, that the FMLN does not do a worse job, especially when it comes to citizen security from crime, which has hit absolutely awful levels under successive ARENA administrations.
I always considered FMLN politico-economic positions to be invalid, but I also admired these guys for coming from the cold (ok, heat, in the case of El Sal) to try and participate in a liberal democratic system in post-war El Sal. En fin, while I disagree with their politics, I do support their chance at governance. They've worked within the system and they deserve a chance at making the system work better or screwing, whichever fate befalls them....
Can someone who has been in El Salvador for the past 25 years tell me why the PDC has lost so much support in recent years?
Fish Guy