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Vol.
8 #4, March 2009
Latin Leftists
On Sunday, March 15, the leftist party, known as the FMLN, won the
presidential election in El Salvador. Mauricio Funes beat the
conservative Arena party’s candidate, Rodrigo Ávila, 51.3
to 48.7 percent. The Arena party has held the presidency since
1989. The FMLN is best known as the former guerrilla group during
the country’s 12-year civil war (1980 to 1992).
Venezuela’s leftist leader, Hugo Chávez, following
legislation allowing the central government to take over seaports,
airports, and highways, directed the Venezuelan Navy to take control of
Maracaibo and Puerto Cabello ports, two of the country’s largest
seaports. The ports are located in Zulia and Carabobo states
respectively, both states with governors from the party opposing
Chávez.
In mid-February Chávez was successful, through a second
referendum, in gaining the right to modify the country’s
constitution to end presidential term limits. Supporters passed
the referendum with 54.4 percent of the votes. The first
referendum, held in December 2007, failed. Chavez has been in
office since 1999. The next presidential election will be held in
December 2012.
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