The Episcopal Conference of El Salvador called on people to vote for the candidates with the most values and with a management plan that reflects the will to work for the common good, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.
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“We call on people who are politically active to develop a high-profile campaign based on mutual respect and maximum respect for people.” This is stated in the statement of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador (CEDES) on the 4 Presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2024.
Respect for the will of Salvadorans
Published and read this Sunday by the President of the Episcopate, the Archbishop of San Salvador, Monsignor José Luis Escobar Alas, the Bishops also call on citizens to exercise their right and duty to vote by voting responsibly and “choosing what is appropriate”. for the good of the country, those “with more values” and taking into account the management plans they put forward, “so that they work for the common good”.
“We demand respect for the will of the Salvadoran people regarding their right to freely vote and absolute compliance with electoral rules.”
Statement of the Salvadoran Bishops on the 2024 elections
More justice, more dignity
The bishops also advance in their message what they consider essential in the government programs presented by the candidates, since in El Salvador “since its independence” there have been strong contrasts between rich and poor.
“Poverty manifests itself in the lack of adequate housing, unfair wages, poor education and health, unemployment, underemployment, malnutrition, forced migration and other problems exacerbated by the harmful practices of corruption.”
The episcopate also points to impunity and the scourge of civil war, to which are added the terrorist groups that have emerged in the last 30 years. Hence his request to “give dignity to the victims and restore them.”
Invest GDP in social
After highlighting the need to improve the “human qualities” of Salvadorans by increasing productive capacities in a fair and dynamic distribution of wealth, the bishops emphasize the need for an investment that can increase “hope in life” in the long term.
“It is imperative to commit to the qualitative development of the population by investing a good percentage of GDP in the social sector.” Investments that ensure the improvement of the education, medical, legal and pension systems; as well as environment and culture.
The CEDES communiqué concludes by calling on those running for the elections to “commit to the unification and reconciliation of the country” so that the electoral event is truly blessed with the favor of God and the Virgin Queen of Peace to the Salvadoran people benefits.
Three more Bukele candidates
The Supreme Electoral Court announced that the President, Vice President and 60 deputies of the Legislative Assembly will be elected on February 4th, while elections for local councils and the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) will take place on March 5th. The elections will include important innovations such as the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate abroad through remote voting via the Internet and personal electronic voting.
Despite numerous objections to the candidacy of current President Nayib Bukele, which the opposition described as unconstitutional. On November 4, the same company approved the President’s re-election presentation registered on October 26 and approved the ruling party’s “New Ideas” formula.
More than 6.1 million citizens are called to take part in these elections, in which, in addition to President Bukele, the following people will take part: the candidate of the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) party, the businessman Joel Sánchez; for the Left Party of the National Liberation Front Farabundo Martí (FMLN) Manuel Flores, former mayor and former deputy of the Legislative Assembly; for the Nuestro Tiempo party, Luis Parada, doctor of law, human rights defender.