Preliminary statement on the election

Preliminary statement from the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador on the March 9, 2014 Elections

The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) wishes to congratulate the Salvadoran people and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal for the transparent electoral process that was carried out today, which represents another important step forward in the consolidation of the Salvadoran democratic process.

As an organization that has observed all the elections that have taken place in El Salvador since the 1992 Peace Accords, we recognize that the 2014 electoral process has been historic in its degree of transparency and accessibility.

Our observers were dispersed throughout the metropolitan area of San Salvador where they were able to monitor today’s proceedings from the initial set-up the voting centers through the final transmission of the vote count to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

We noted two significant differences from the February 2 election, including in the same centers where we had previously observed. First, that the atmosphere in the voting centers was tenser than it was a month ago. Second, that voter participation was higher than it was on February 2, for which we wish to congratulate the Salvadoran people.

With over 95% percent of the voting centers reporting, the FMLN holds a lead of approximately 7000 votes.

Therefore, we are extremely concerned that the president of the ARENA party, Jorge Velado, declared victory in a press conference that took place around 7:30 pm. Such actions suggest that ARENA may be laying the groundwork to challenge the results in spite of the lack of evidence to support such a position.

Press contact: Alexis Stoumbelis, Executive Director +503 7464-1558