Adapting to changing political and economic times in El Salvador

I'm sure most of you do but in case you don't, follow Tim's musings on El Salvador. Make it a point to do so for your New Year's resolution Lent. 

He recently looked at proposed legislation in the US that would severely threaten El Salvador's nascent call center industry. The employ American workers first and foremost and damn the consequences approach might really hurt call centers that have popped up in Guatemala, El Salvador, and elsewhere. These centers provide some good jobs to the people of Central America, especially those who have learned English in the US, even if the benefits do not accrue much to the average worker.

The FMLN has also been battling with the country's Constitutional Chamber (CC). The CC has made several rulings, many questionable, over the last several eight years that has taken power away from the country's political parties and challenged how politics has always been done (meaning when ARENA was in control). Its most recent decision involves the removal of Jesús Ulises Rivas Sánchez from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). While the entire Legislative Assembly voted on his appointment, Rivas Sanchez had been nominated by the FMLN to serve on the TSE.

The decision of the Constitutional Chamber is consistent with one regular theme in its decisions. The court has consistently acted to diminish the power of the political parties. It has done so in decisions which allow independent candidates, in decision which allow voting for individual candidates rather than a party ticket, and in decisions which allow voting for candidates from different parties on the same ballot. The decision to remove a magistrate for publicly expressing partiality for a political party follows the same track.

The FMLN issued a statement and has been vigorously complaining in public forums about the decision of the Constitutional Chamber. The statements go beyond disagreeing with the logic of the court's decision. The statements assert that this ruling is a blow against democracy and a conspiracy with the oligarchy and its political allies so that the upcoming elections in 2018 and 2019 can be stolen through fraud. The statement calls on the Salvadoran people to block the efforts of the magistrates of the Constitutional Chamber to dismantle the fundamentals of democracy in El Salvador. (You can read an English language version of these arguments from CISPES at this link)

I can understand both sides of the legal argument which were advanced in the Rivas Sánchez case, and both arguments were reasonable. The important point should be that the Constitutional Chamber should be the body which makes the decision as to which argument prevails. Having done that, the threat to El Salvador's democracy is not from the court decision, but from politicians who would actively seek to undermine the judicial branch of the government.

Enjoy the snow. We have 12" so far. What a spring break!