Polls & Research
Archive Search
El Salvador’s FMLN Surges After Leader’s Death
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The legislative election in El Salvador is too close to call, according to a poll by Universidad Tecnológica. 29.7 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), while 28.6 per cent would back the governing conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
The survey shows a 10.3-point increase in FMLN voters since November. Support is considerably lower for the National Conciliation Party (PCN), the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), and the United Democratic Centre (CDU). The election is scheduled for Mar. 12.
In the March 2003 election, the FMLN garnered 34 per cent of all cast ballots and elected 31 lawmakers to the Legislative Assembly. ARENA was second with 32 per cent and 27 legislators.
On Jan. 24, FMLN leader Schafik Handal passed away in El Salvador. Handal was expected to lead the leftist political organization into next month's legislative ballot.
FMLN communications chief Sigfredo Reyes said the poll shows a clear tendency favouring his party, and added, "Our proposals are real solutions in the areas of employment, cost of life and security, which are now being heard and analyzed by the voters."
ARENA's Antonio Saca won the 2004 presidential ballot with 57.73 per cent, defeating the FMLN's Handal. ARENA candidates have emerged victorious after the last four presidential contests in the Central American country.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next legislative election?
Jan. 2006 | Nov. 2005 | |
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) | 29.7% | 19.4% |
Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) | 28.6% | 25.7% |
National Conciliation Party (PCN) | 8.0% | 6.8% |
Christian Democratic Party (PDC) | 4.2% | 3.9% |
Source: Universidad Tecnológica
Methodology: Interviews with 2,119 Salvadoran adults, conducted from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, 2006. Margin of error is 2.1 per cent.