San Salvador gets an "alcaldesa" after much drama

Fri17Mar2006

San Salvador gets an "alcaldesa" after much drama

18:06 H | Topics: Blogs - El Salvador - Politics - Women

History was made today in El Salvador as the capital city of San Salvador elected its first female mayor, Violeta Menjivar, who claimed victory by a margin of just 61 votes. Menjivar belongs to the FMLN party.

Tim's El Salvador Blog offers coverage and interesting comments from people who were present on election day and witness to the violence that broke out before Menjivar's victory was declared. It seems that the recount people were taking too long, and many began to suspect fraud.

According to another blogger in El Salvador (in Spanish) the newly elected mayor claimed that members of her party had marched on the hotel Radisson, where the recount was taking place, in a pacific manner. The blogger himself disagrees and describes what sounds like an angry mob situation. Elsalvador.com describes a similar scene.

La alcadesa herself says "get over it!":

The FMLN organizers set up a march to the Hotel Radisson. Did you like the outcome of that march?

What I didn't like was that the police hurt seven people. Because in all parts of the world there are marches when institutions don't work. What's wrong with a group of people being worried about dragging out the recognition of victory? I think the police went too far. Maybe the march wasn't necessary, I don't know, but I don't think we need to make drama out of it.

A Latin American election without drama just wouldn't be a Latin American election.

Via / Sources listed above