From left to right: In Costa
Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís (PAC), José María Villalta (Frente Amplio),
Johny Araya Monge (PLN). In El Salvador, Norman Quijano (ARENA),
Salvador Sánchez Cerén, (FMLN) and Elías Antonio Saca (Unidad).
After the recent summit of the Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC), at which the U.S. was not represented,
Washington is trying to get revenge in Central America. On February 2
presidential and parliamentary elections took place in El Salvador and
Costa Rica. Most predictions indicated the possibility that leftist
politicians may come to power in these countries: in Costa Rica the
leader of the Broad Front, Jose Maria Villalta; and in El Salvador,
Salvador Sanchez Ceren, the candidate from the Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN). It was not ruled out that there could be a
second round of elections, as in both countries there were record
numbers of presidential candidates; the electorate was divided, and it
was difficult to get enough votes to win. That is what occurred.