Early Christmas For FMLN Amid Divided Opposition

The ruling left-wing Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nactional (FMLN) bloc of President Mauricio Funes received a welcome surprise in parliament in late October, when 12 deputies of the right-wing opposition Alianza Republicana Nacional (Arena) left the coalition to form a new legislative group. This created a deep rift in the opposition bloc, and has resulted in a congressional vote to rotate the presidency of congress in FMLN's favour and expand the 84-seat lower house by 11 seats. Despite the favourable legislative development for the ruling coalition, President Funes expressed his deep concern about an institutional crisis in his country and called for unity among the opposition.

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