EL SALVADOR: Former TV reporter and talk show host Mauricio Funes was elected President in one of the most polarized campaigns since the 12 year El Salvador civil war that claimed more than 75,000 lives. Funes, a moderate, was chosen from outside the ranks of the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. The party, once rebels during the civil war, is the latest leftist group to rise to power in Lain America.

Funes is stoked, saying:

“This is the happiest night of my life, and I want it to be the night of El Salvador’s greatest hope,” Funes said. “I want to thank all the people who voted for me and chose that path of hope and change.”

Hope and change rhetoric has been popular lately. Around the world people are holding their breath, waiting to see how Obama will react. The US’s history with left leaning Latin American governments is sketchy to say the least, but Funes hopes that Obama will honor the people’s choice.

The previous conservative government did inspire growth, but at a cost. There is still terrible inequity among the people of El Salvador, and tensions linger from the civil war. Funes plans to crack down on big business, which has enjoyed little government regulation for years.

China Post article: Salvadoran ex-rebels win presidency for first time