2012 Salvadoran legislative and local elections

Following the 2009 presidential election, the first ever president from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), Mauricio Funes, was elected following the end of the Salvadoran civil war.

This election was seen as a test of Funes' government since it was the first election since he came to power. Prior to the election, the FMLN controlled the Legislative Assembly in alliance with Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA), dissidents from the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).[2]

In addition to ARENA, FMLN and GANA, six smaller parties fielded candidates. ARENA is led by Alfredo Cristiani, a former president during the civil war; FMLN is led by Medardo González, a former guerrilla chief; and GANA is led by former member of ARENA and president Elías Antonio Saca.[2]

The National Conciliation Party and the Christian Democratic Party were both dissolved by a Supreme Court of Justice verdict in 2011. Technically, they would have been deregistered after their electoral setback in 2004 (less than 3%), but a 2005 decree saved them from being folded and allowed them to carry on. The Supreme Court ruled this decree to be unconstitutional and eventually disbanded the parties.[3] However, both parties continued their political work and registered as the National Coalition[4] and Party of Hope, respectively.[5]

ARENA's campaign issues included a tough response to criminal and youth gangs, which was a concern with 14 murders a day, according to government figures. FMLN campaigned on promises of social programmes and job creation, where unemployment is 34% (though down from 40% before Funes took office).[2]

In January, Funes appointed army General Francisco Salinas to replace Carlos Ascencio, who had resigned to join the foreign service, as head of the national police. For this, Funes was criticised by members of his own party who alleged that appointing someone from the military to head the police was in contravention of both the Constitution of El Salvador and the Chapultepec Peace Accords.[6]

The Central American University carried out an opinion poll which showed the FMLN alliance was leading with 27.8%, but closely followed by ARENA with 26.4%.[2] According to a CID-Gallup poll for the daily newspaper La Página, carried out from 16 to 19 February, ARENA had the support of 34% of voters, FMLN followed with 32% of the voters and GANA, a faction of ARENA, was third with 10% of the voters.[7]

The voting stations were scheduled to open from 7:00 to 17:00, but many opened late.[8] After voting, Funes called on the electorate to help him "guarantee that the changes that are taking place are strengthened, and not turned back."

Legislative election

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Nationalist Republican Alliance	897,054	39.80	33	+1
	Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front	827,522	36.72	31	–4
	Grand Alliance for National Unity	217,447	9.65	11	New
	National Coalition Party	163,209	7.24	7	–4
	Christian Democratic Party	61,772	2.74	1	–4
	Democratic Change	47,747	2.12	1	0
	National Liberal Party	14,071	0.62	0	New
	Popular Party	11,132	0.49	0	New
	Independents	13,742	0.61	0	New
Total		2,253,696	100.00	84	0
Valid votes		2,253,696	95.11
Invalid/blank votes		115,754	4.89
Total votes		2,369,450	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,564,969	51.91
Source: Election Resources, TSE

Municipal elections

The election also chose mayors of 262 towns and cities.[2]

After the polls closed, but before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal had published the official results, ARENA candidate and the incumbent mayor Norman Quijano declared himself winner of the mayoral race in the capital, San Salvador.[9] He beat the FMLN's Jorge Shafick Handal, the son of former FMLN leader Schafik Handal.[10]

Of the 14 district capitals, ARENA won control of nine town halls, FMLN won control of three town halls, while GANA and the National Coalition each won control of one town hall.[11]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Nationalist Republican Alliance	896,892	38.80	116	–6
	Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front	807,644	34.94	94	+1
	Grand Alliance for National Unity	265,358	11.48	17	New
	National Coalition Party	204,212	8.83	27	–6
	Christian Democratic Party	74,823	3.24	5	–7
	Democratic Change	50,048	2.17	3	+2
	National Liberal Party	9,660	0.42	0	New
	Popular Party	1,408	0.06	0	New
	Salvadoran Patriot Fraternity	1,366	0.06	0	New
Total		2,311,411	100.00	262	0
Valid votes		2,311,411	97.43
Invalid/blank votes		61,090	2.57
Total votes		2,372,501	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,564,969	51.97

 Summary of the 10 March 2012 Salvadoran Municipal election result

Departments		Municipalities		Mayor	Party	Margin	%
San Salvador		San Salvador**		Norman Quijano*	ARENA	52,588
		Ciudad Delgado			FMLN/CD***	347
		Mejicanos			ARENA	599
		Soyapango			ARENA	267
		Cuscatancingo			FMLN	3,342
		San Marcos			FMLN	514
		Ilopango			ARENA	668
		Nejapa			FMLN	248
		Apopa			ARENA	3,107
		San Martin			ARENA	406
		Panchimalco			FMLN	2,947
		Aguilares			FMLN/CD***	91
		Tonacatepeque			ARENA	2,495
		Santo Tomás			ARENA	1,811	47.73%
		Santiago Texacuangos			ARENA	1,029
		El Paisnal			FMLN	1,279	60.43%
		Guazapa			CN	800
		Ayutuxtepeque			ARENA	416
		Rosario de Mora			FMLN	637
Santa Ana		Santa Ana**			FMLN/CD***	399
		Chalchuapa			FMLN	2,831
		Metapán			CN	2,101
		Coatepeque			ARENA	992
		El Congo			CN	466
		Texistepeque			PES	361	36.69%
		Candelaria de la Frontera			ARENA	4,208
		San Sebastián Salitrillo			FMLN	355
		Santa Rosa Guachipilín			ARENA	91
		Santiago de la Frontera			ARENA	905
		El Porvenir			CN	486
		Masahuat			CN	187
		San Antonio Pajonal			ARENA	377	57.22%
San Miguel		San Miguel**			GANA	7,307
		Chinameca			ARENA	971
		El Tránsito			FMLN	486	38.07%
		Ciudad Barrios			PES	883	35.5%
		Chirilagua			ARENA	299	47.45%
		Sesori			CN/PES***	8
		San Rafael Oriente			GANA	262	32.99%
		Moncagua			FMLN	1,231
		Lolotique			FMLN	132	33.09%
		San Jorge			FMLN	394
		Chapeltique			CD	885	42.69%
		San Gerardo			ARENA	8	49.92%
		Carolina			ARENA	407	53.74%
		Quelepa			FMLN	368	53.31%
		San Luis de la Reina			FMLN	413	52.09%
		Nuevo Edén de San Juan			ARENA	12
		Nueva Guadalupe			FMLN	138	35.31%
		Uluazapa			FMLN	51	49.86%
		Comacarán			FMLN	783	69.3%
		San Antonio del Mosco			ARENA	560
La Libertad		Santa Tecla**			FMLN/CD***	648
		Quezaltepeque			ARENA	164
		Ciudad Arce			FMLN/CD***	167	52.86%
		San Juan Opico			ARENA	1,163
		Colón			ARENA	4,527
		La Libertad			FMLN/PES***	731
		Antiguo Cuscatlán			ARENA	9,666	74.34%
		Comasagua			FMLN	356	42.14%
		San Pablo Tacachico			FMLN	285
		Jayaque			ARENA	887	56.53%
		Huizúcar			ARENA	690	53.45%
		Tepecoyo			GANA	403
		Teotepeque			ARENA	1,090
		Chiltiupán			ARENA	1,377	62.23%
		Nuevo Cuscatlán			FMLN/CD***	108
		Tamanique			ARENA	1,520	52.18%
		Sacacoyo			ARENA	1,422	59.87%
		San José Villanueva			CN	420	35.61%
		Zaragoza			CN	42
		Talnique			ARENA	978
		San Matías			ARENA	672	50.94%
		Jicalapa			ARENA	1,175
Usulután		Usulután**			CN	82
		Jiquilisco			FMLN	4,469
		Berlín			CN	267
		Santiago de María			CN	553
		Jucuapa			FMLN	510
		Santa Elena ·			FMLN	1,074
		Jucuarán			FMLN	282	39.64%
		San Agustín			FMLN	329	53.75%
		Ozatlán			FMLN	210	50.37%
		Estanzuelas			FMLN	60	39.38%
		Mercedes Umaña			FMLN	378
		Alegría			FMLN	1,591
		Concepción Batres			FMLN	412
		San Francisco Javier			FMLN	76
		Puerto El Triunfo			CD	371
		Tecapán			FMLN	36	50.26%
		San Dionisio			ARENA	492	43.76%
		Ereguayquín			ARENA	339	52.35%
		Santa María			ARENA	747
		Nueva Granada			ARENA	435	55.12%
		El Triunfo·			ARENA	549	49.3%
		San Buenaventura			FMLN	250
		California			ARENA	507	70.45%
Sonsonate		Sonsonate**			ARENA	7,206
		Izalco			ARENA	597
		Acajutla			FMLN	3,014
		Armenia			ARENA	4,082	63.96%
		Nahuizalco			FMLN	2,901	41.85%
		Juayúa			CN	1,171	27.76%
		San Julián			FMLN	394	37.17%
		Sonzacate			ARENA	765
		San Antonio del Monte			CD	679
		Nahuilingo			ARENA	565
		Cuisnahuat			FMLN	38	36.09%
		Santa Catarina Masahuat			FMLN/CD***	203
		Caluco			CN	749	41.96%
		Santa Isabel Ishuatán			ARENA	818
		Salcoatitán			PES	122	27.3%
		Santo Domingo de Guzman			CN	108
La Unión		La Unión**			ARENA	2,698
		Santa Rosa de Lima			ARENA	217
		Pasaquina			GANA	48
		San Alejo			ARENA	1,068
		Anamorós			FMLN	126
		El Carmen			GANA	519	37.42%
		Conchagua			ARENA	142	39.36%
		El Sauce			GANA	25	34.91%
		Lislique			ARENA	1,677
		Yucuaiquín			ARENA	188
		Nueva Esparta			ARENA	175	40.54%
		Polorós			ARENA	306
		Bolivar			ARENA	775	62.43%
		Concepción de Oriente ·			ARENA	409	49.74%
		Intipucá			ARENA	369	46.69%
		San Jose las Fuentes			ARENA	100
		Yayantique			ARENA	637	44.24%
		Meanguera del Golfo			ARENA	227	58.64%
La Paz		Zacatecoluca**			FMLN	5,084
		Santiago Nonualco			GANA	481
		San Juan Nonualco			ARENA	295
		San Pedro Masahuat			FMLN	905
		Olocuilta			ARENA	1,920
		San Pedro Nonualco			FMLN	265
		San Francisco Chinameca			ARENA	188	39.35%
		San Juan Talpa			GANA	590
		El Rosario			FMLN	419
		San Rafael Obrajuelo			ARENA	1,188
		Santa María Ostuma			ARENA	632
		San Luis Talpa			GANA	1,222
		San Antonio Masahuat			ARENA	184	39.87%
		San Miguel Tepezontes			CN	60
		San Juan Tepezontes			CN	34	48.1%
		Tapalhuaca			FMLN	292	43.27%
		Cuyultitán			ARENA	49	32.47%
		Paraíso de Osorio			CN	1	47.21%
		San Emigdio			FMLN	12	35.67%
		Jerusalén			FMLN	237	56.56%
		Mercedes La Ceiba			GANA	428	71.01%
		San Luis La Herradura			FMLN	1,521
Chalatenango		Chalatenango**			ARENA	439
		Nueva Concepción			FMLN	81	41.17%
		La Palma			FMLN	261
		Tejutla			CN	882
		La Reina			CN	395
		Arcatao			FMLN	223
		San Ignacio			ARENA	256
		Dulce Nombre de María			ARENA	42	42.06%
		Citalá			ARENA	1,030	59.28%
		Agua Caliente			ARENA	352	38.2%
		Concepción Quezaltepeque			FMLN	222	52.01%
		Nueva Trinidad			FMLN	364	68.09%
		Las Vueltas			FMLN	630	86%
		Comalapa			ARENA	458	58.11%
		San Rafael			ARENA	39	27.53%
		Las Flores			FMLN	611	88.25%
		Ojos de Agua			ARENA	348	41.02%
		Nombre de Jesús			FMLN	392	57.96%
		Potonico			ARENA	11	50.04%
		San Francisco Morazán			ARENA	134	39.22%
		Santa Rita			ARENA	606	62.21%
		La Laguna			ARENA	168
		San Isidro Labrador			FMLN	158	71.34%
		San Antonio de la Cruz			FMLN	130	55.34%
		El Paraíso			ARENA	124	37.45%
		San Miguel de Mercedes			CN	805	75.43%
		San Luis del Carmen			FMLN	143	50.07%
		San José Cancasque			FMLN	42	50.94%
		San Antonio Los Ranchos			FMLN	306	76.37%
		El Carrizal			FMLN	329	59.53%
		San Fernando			ARENA	60	52.25%
		Azacualpa			FMLN	142	58.15%
		San Francisco Lempa			FMLN	21	36.95%
Cuscatlán		Cojutepeque**			ARENA	3,079
		Suchitoto			FMLN	3,730
		San Pedro Perulapán			FMLN	3,337	43.4%
		San José Guayabal			ARENA	751	52.88%
		Tenancingo			FMLN	133	44.4%
		San Rafael Cedros			ARENA	291
		Candelaria			CN	1,745
		El Carmen			ARENA	799	49.98%
		Monte San Juan			PES	605	34.51%
		San Cristobal			ARENA	398
		Santa Cruz Michapa			CN	141	36.99%
		San Bartolomé Perulapía			FMLN	146
		San Ramon			ARENA	40	41.2%
		El Rosario			ARENA	315	44.9%
		Oratorio de Concepción			CN	139	35.6%
		Santa Cruz Analquito			GANA	464	61.41%
Ahuachapán		Ahuachapán**			ARENA	5,395
		Atiquizaya			ARENA	1,049
		San Francisco Menéndez			PES	1,188
		Tacuba			ARENA	167
		Concepción de Ataco			ARENA	1,229	54.55%
		Jujutla			ARENA	2,398
		Guaymango			FMLN	1,793
		Apaneca			ARENA	944
		San Pedro Puxtla			FMLN/CD***	8	50.36%
		San Lorenzo			FMLN	434
		Turín			CN	1,390
		El Refugio			ARENA	493	42.68%
Morazán		San Francisco Gotera**			ARENA	3,210	56.94%
		Jocoro			FMLN	796
		Corinto			ARENA	1,305	54.08%
		Sociedad			FMLN	450
		Cacaopera			FMLN	280
		Guatajiagua			ARENA	259	34.09%
		El Divisadero			FMLN	907
		Jocoaitique			ARENA	108	52.06%
		Osicala			GANA	436
		Chilanga			ARENA	407
		Meanguera			FMLN	573
		Torola			FMLN	30
		San Simon			FMLN	461	42%
		Delicias de Concepción			GANA	24	49.6%
		Joateca			GANA	78	50.38%
		Arambala			FMLN	133	40.09%
		Lolotiquillo			ARENA	416	55.02%
		Yamabal			ARENA	69	37.76%
		Yoloaiquín			ARENA	714
		San Carlos			ARENA	461	51.99%
		El Rosario			GANA	8	39.24%
		Perquín			FMLN	178	41.59%
		Sensembra			ARENA	271
		Gualococti			ARENA	195	45.3%
		San Fernando			GANA	134
		San Isidro			FMLN	237	50.94%
San Vicente		San Vicente**			ARENA	6,386
		Tecoluca			FMLN	1,025
		San Sebastián			ARENA	1,210	53.54%
		Apastepeque			GANA	1,356
		San Esteban Catarina			FMLN	507
		San Ildefonso			FMLN	93
		Santa Clara			FMLN	119	52.28%
		San Lorenzo			FMLN	371
		Verapaz			FMLN	132
		Guadalupe			CN/PES***	4
		Santo Domingo			CN/PES***	7
		San Cayetano Istepeque			ARENA	69	49.28%
		Tepetitán			FMLN	74	40.46%
Cabañas		Sensuntepeque**			ARENA	5,394
		Ilobasco			ARENA	2,780	48.35%
		Victoria			ARENA	722
		San Isidro			ARENA	641	42.71
		Jutiapa			ARENA	1,275	63.74%
		Tejutepeque			ARENA	169
		Dolores			ARENA	84	50.44%
		Cinquera			FMLN	39	49.45%
		Guacotecti			CN	280	34.39%
*Incumbent. **Department capitals. ***Joint candidates.
Totals		262
Source: Supreme Electoral Tribunal (pdf)

San Salvador's re-elected mayor Norman Quijano called the result "historic" and announced that the party was "going to turn the country around."[12]

A strong showing for ARENA was read as a hindrance to Funes' implementation of his pledged social programmes two years before his term ends.[13]

The president and his FMLN administration are likely to be dependent on the support of GANA, which has already helped the government with passing fiscal reform bills during the last legislators' term.[12] The Christian Science Monitor read the result as a "litmus test" for President Mauricio Funes before the next presidential election.[14]