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Electoral/Political Party Reform: Chapultepec Peace Agreement

Implementations

Electoral/Political Party Reform – 1992

The accord called for several institutional requirements necessary to have free and fair elections. The Legislative Assembly appointed the Special Electoral Tribunal in 1992 after some delays. COPAZ appointed the Special Commission which was governed by the Tribunal. The Government put forth legislation to establish the FMLN as a political party.¹ The Parties subsequently reached a negotiated agreement to propose legislation to facilitate the legalization of the FMLN as a political party by 30 June 1992.² However, the FMLN did not gain permission to formally begin the process of becoming a political party until 30 July 1992. Full recognition as a party was hindered by the delays in the DDR process as a whole.³ The FMLN was ultimately legalized as a political party on 14 December 1992, in coordination with the formal cessation of armed conflict on 15 December 1992.⁴

“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/23999), May 26, 1992.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/23999/Add.1), June 16, 1992.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/24833), November 23, 1992; (S/23999), May 26, 1992.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL),” United Nations Security Council (S/25006), December 23, 1992.

Electoral/Political Party Reform – 1993

Elections were scheduled for March 1994 and the Government of El Salvador requested UN observers for those first elections. ONUSAL began making preparations shortly after, working in coordination with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.¹

The institutional framework for the election process was established, and parties prepared candidates. The major concern was low levels of voter registration.² After concerted effort by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, 787,834 Salvadorians registered to vote by the year’s end—a success in the judgment of ONUSAL.³ A Board of Vigilance composed of representatives of all the political parties was created to advise citizens on problems they encountered in getting voter registration cards.⁴

“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/25812), May 21, 1993.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/26606), October 20, 1993.
“Tenth report of the Director of the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations General Assembly / Security Council (A/49/116 S/1994/385), April 5, 1994).
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/179), February 16, 1994.

Electoral/Political Party Reform – 1994

The deadline for voter registration was extended to 19 January 1994, by which time a total of 2,653,871 persons had been registered. The deadline for registering candidates for lower offices was extended to 31 January 1994. Many discrepancies persisted in the registration records, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal did not meet the deadline for issuing registration cards after the push to register as many voters as possible. The Attorney-General of the Republic selected an Electoral Counsel in January 1994 to address complaints about the electoral process. ¹ By 16 March 1994, more than 74,000 persons requesting voter registration cards still had not received them due to insufficient documentation.²

The elections occurred on 20 March 1994 without any significant scandals or disruptions, and ONUSAL considered them acceptable. Approximately 1.5 million voters participated, amounting to roughly 55% of registered voters, which was lower than expected. No one presidential candidate received a majority, which forced a run-off election.³ The Electoral Division made many corrective recommendations to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to be implemented before the second round of elections on 24 April 1994. The Tribunal made several improvements, satisfying the Electoral Division. The second round, like the first, occurred with nothing more than some minor irregularities. About 1.2 million valid votes were counted, and Armando Calderon Sol, the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA) candidate, was elected president with 68% of the votes. While approving of the elections, the Electoral Division still called for “a thorough reform of the electoral system.”⁴

A new Supreme Electoral Tribunal was elected on 30 July 1994.⁵

“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/179), February 16, 1994.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/304), March 16, 1994.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/375), March 31, 1994.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/536), May 4, 1994.
“Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/1000), August 26, 1994.