The media switches gears

March 12/13
We are now in the first days without campaign ads in the newspaper, TV and radio.

I expected it to be quieter but the media has switched gears and rather than official ads for the parties, they now run interviews with ´experts´ who continue the smear campaign against the FMLN by continuing to advance the ARENA party line. Also claiming that ARENA has been in power for 20 years and they have maintained peace and prosperity. They are trying to position themselves as a populist party but a walk past their main office in San Salvador, with its Hummers and luxury sports cars proudly on display, tells a different story.

The newspaper, La Prensa Grafica, although not technically an ad for them, have a large colour picture of an ARENA member in full red white and blue regalia on its cover page. Buried deeper in the paper is a small article quoting FMLN´s secretary of communication, Sigfrido Reyes, denouncement of false DUI cards. DUI (documentos unicos de identidad) are the main form of identification for Salvadorans but many report have been made of fake DUIs being used to generate electoral fraud.

The non partisan television commercials are dominated by the election offices. There is an extensive campaign to educate and remind civilians that Sunday is the day to vote and what items they need to bring with them. The turn out for the January municipal elections was quite low at just over 50%. This low number is being attributed to voter scepticism, dis-interest, and a general feeling from the public that no matter how they vote, it will not matter due to the high level of historical electoral fraud.

Friday night at midnight the country will become (technically) dry. Hopefully the sobre minds will lead voters to a vote for change and away from the corruption that has been rampant for decades.