Communist Party of El Salvador
Encyclopedia
The Communist Party of El Salvador (in Spanish
: Partido Comunista de El Salvador) was the official Communist
political party
in El Salvador
. The Communist Party was founded by Miguel Mármol in the 1930s.
In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 200. In 1980, it joined with four other leftist
parties in the country - the FPL, RN, PRTC and ERP - to form a revolutionary political-military front called the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional
(Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
).
The FMLN waged a guerrilla war against the Salvadoran government, which had been a military dictatorship since the 1930s. The Communist Party of El Salvador and the four other parties continued to exist as separate organizations under the umbrella of the FMLN throughout El Salvador's civil war
from 1980 to 1992.
When the Salvadoran civil war ended in 1992, the FMLN became a legal political party and began to compete in elections. After the 1994 elections, the Communist Party and the four other parties that comprised the FMLN dissolved themselves as separate organizations, merging into a singular FMLN with no competing internal organizations. At that point the Communist Party of El Salvador ceased to exist as an independent entity, though many of its leaders and members are still visible in the FMLN. For example, former Communist Party leader Schafik Hándal
was the FMLN's presidential candidate in the 2004 elections.
During the Salvadoran civil war from 1980 to 1992, Schafik Hándal
was the leader of the Communist Party. Prior to him, Cayetano Carpio
was the Communist Party leader in the 1960s, before leaving the CP to form the FPL and launch the armed struggle against the dictatorship in 1970.
On March 27, 2005, a group of Salvadoran communists formed a new PCES, in the tradition of the old party that dissolved into the FMLN.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Partido Comunista de El Salvador) was the official Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. The Communist Party was founded by Miguel Mármol in the 1930s.
In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 200. In 1980, it joined with four other leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
parties in the country - the FPL, RN, PRTC and ERP - to form a revolutionary political-military front called the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front is, since 1992, a left-wing political party in El Salvador and formerly a coalition of five revolutionary guerrilla organizations...
(Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front is, since 1992, a left-wing political party in El Salvador and formerly a coalition of five revolutionary guerrilla organizations...
).
The FMLN waged a guerrilla war against the Salvadoran government, which had been a military dictatorship since the 1930s. The Communist Party of El Salvador and the four other parties continued to exist as separate organizations under the umbrella of the FMLN throughout El Salvador's civil war
El Salvador Civil War
The Salvadoran Civil War was a conflict in El Salvador between the military-led government of El Salvador and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front , a coalition or umbrella organization of five left-wing militias. Significant tensions and violence had already existed, before the civil...
from 1980 to 1992.
When the Salvadoran civil war ended in 1992, the FMLN became a legal political party and began to compete in elections. After the 1994 elections, the Communist Party and the four other parties that comprised the FMLN dissolved themselves as separate organizations, merging into a singular FMLN with no competing internal organizations. At that point the Communist Party of El Salvador ceased to exist as an independent entity, though many of its leaders and members are still visible in the FMLN. For example, former Communist Party leader Schafik Hándal
Schafik Handal
Schafik Jorge Handal was a Salvadoran politician. Born in Usulután, he was the son of Palestinian Arab immigrants.-Biography:...
was the FMLN's presidential candidate in the 2004 elections.
During the Salvadoran civil war from 1980 to 1992, Schafik Hándal
Schafik Handal
Schafik Jorge Handal was a Salvadoran politician. Born in Usulután, he was the son of Palestinian Arab immigrants.-Biography:...
was the leader of the Communist Party. Prior to him, Cayetano Carpio
Cayetano Carpio
Salvador Cayetano Carpio , aka Commander Marcial, was the leader of the Communist Party of El Salvador in the 1960s, until he quit the party to found the Salvadoran revolutionary political-military organization, the Fuerzas Populares de Liberación Farabundo Martí, also known by its initials, FPL)...
was the Communist Party leader in the 1960s, before leaving the CP to form the FPL and launch the armed struggle against the dictatorship in 1970.
On March 27, 2005, a group of Salvadoran communists formed a new PCES, in the tradition of the old party that dissolved into the FMLN.