The FMLN in El Salvador

While municipal and legislative elections are not scheduled until 2012, the FMLN is getting ready to compete.  Two weeks ago, the FMLN held its XXVI national convention where it elected its 57-member National Council and 19-member Political Committee.  The party reaffirmed Medardo Gonzalez as general coordinator while Violeta Menjivar, the former mayor of San Salvador and deputy minister of health, was elected assistant coordinator.  The new members of the National Council and Political Committee will serve five-year terms and will carry the party through the 2012, 2014, and 2015 elections (Inside Costa Rica).

In preparation for the 2012 elections, the FMLN is calling for a "national pact to transform El Salvador."  Jose Luis Merino (nom de guerre Commander Ramiro Vazquez) emphasized the necessity of maintaining the unity of the people and the party so that they have the energy and force to continue with the transformation of this nation and to prevent the right from regaining power (Inside Costa Rica).  Merino has clearly stated that in 2009 Funes was chosen simply to alleviate the country's fears of an FMLN victory.  Now that that fear has been overcome, the FMLN is ready to push an FMLN militant as president to lead them on the path towards socialismo cuscatleco in 2014 and beyond. 

And in case you wanted to know more about what Joaquin Villalobos is up to these days, you can read a story about his newest consulting gig.  He has been providing expert advice to the Mexican government since 2005 on confronting drug traffickers.  I was surprised to hear speculation about a return to Salvadoran politics for Villalobos.  I can't find any polling information, but I don't get the impression that he's a popular figure in El Salvador.  In fact, I didn't really think that anyone liked him.  The LA Times article even states as much at the end of its report.  

Villalobos has dismissed speculation that he is biding his time for a return to El Salvador and a run for president, something many there suspect he is planning to do. It would be a challenging campaign, as he has little obvious support base. The onetime hero of the armed left is mistrusted by the right he fought and the left that feels betrayed by him.

Crazier things have happened.