Salvadoran Government Party
Seeks More Votes
San Salvador - Salvadoran government Alianza Republicana
Nacionalista (ARENA) party has intensified its electoral campaign in
the country's eastern area, seeking more votes, when the polls show
opposition Farabundo Marti Front (FMLN) as the favorite for the
coming presidential elections.
Faced with elections on February 15, the mentioned region could
contribute over 500,000 votes, according to the number of people
registered in the recent legislative and municipal votes on January
18.
La Prensa Grafica daily said the mentioned territory represents at
present, the first coveted source of votes for the two main
political forces, rightwing ARENA and ex guerrilla FMLN, which
increased the number of meetings held with political leaders of that
area.
ARENA candidate Rodrigo Avila has campaigned in the eastern region
for several days, with the intention of gaining followers, because
he was offering projects to the citizenry, according to his own
words. This action includes meetings with different councillors.
He also recognized the negotiation of alliances with the leaderships
of Conciliacion Nacional, Frente Democratico Revolucionario, and
Cambio Democratico parties, although the decision by the rank and
file of those groups could differ from the stances of their
leaderships, he said.
To FMLN candidate Mauricio Funes, the talks with mayors of the
eastern region are also important, but the agreements by the
leaderships do not entail territorial or rank-and-file commitments,
even less commitments by those who have historically voted for one
or another party.
After withdrawal of the Democracia Cristiana and Conciliacion
Nacional parties' presidential candidacies, it is obvious that the
right is trying to unify its forces, before Feruary 15, according to
local experts.
Around 4,200,000 Salvadorians will be able to go to the polls to
decide the nation's presidency. If none of the candidates wins over
half the valid votes, there will be a second electoral round on
April 19. |
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