Salvador Sánchez Cerén
Encyclopedia
Salvador Sánchez Cerén is a Salvadoran
politician and former teacher. Following the 2009 presidential election
, he is the Vice President of El Salvador
.
After graduating from Alberto Masferrer—a school for teachers—with a degree in primary education, he taught for ten years in public and rural schools in his hometown. He became politically active in the late 1960s as a member of ANDES 21 de Junio, the national teachers union, participating in several demonstrations against El Salvador's military dictatorship. In the 1970s he joined the Fuerzas Populares de Liberación "Farabundo Martí"
(FPL), one of the five left-wing organizations that later merged to form the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN).
With the start of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1980, Sánchez Cerén adopted the pseudonym Commander Leonel González, as he was also appointed to the position. In 1984 he became a Commanding General of the FMLN, until the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords
in 1992, when the guerrillas surrendered their weapons and became a legal political party.
In 2000, Sánchez Cerén was elected deputy for the FMLN in the Legislative Assembly
and was re-elected in 2003 and 2006. Between 2001 and 2004 he served as the general coordinator of his party. In 2006, he succeeded the late politician Schafik Handal
as head of the legislative portion of the FMLN. In April 2007 he was chosen as the running mate of Mauricio Funes
in the 2009 presidential election. On March 15, Funes and Sánchez Cerén defeated the Nationalist Republican Alliance
(ARENA), ending two decades of conservative rule 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...
politician and former teacher. Following the 2009 presidential election
Salvadoran presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in El Salvador on 15 March 2009. The main candidates were Rodrigo Ávila and Mauricio Funes . Funes won the election with 51.3% of the vote.-Polls:...
, he is the Vice President of El Salvador
Vice President of El Salvador
Vice President of El Salvador is a political position in El Salvador which is elected concurrently with the position of President of El Salvador.A list of the office holders follows. The list is not complete.- 1962-1979 :- 1984 onwards :...
.
After graduating from Alberto Masferrer—a school for teachers—with a degree in primary education, he taught for ten years in public and rural schools in his hometown. He became politically active in the late 1960s as a member of ANDES 21 de Junio, the national teachers union, participating in several demonstrations against El Salvador's military dictatorship. In the 1970s he joined the Fuerzas Populares de Liberación "Farabundo Martí"
Fuerzas Populares de Liberación Farabundo Martí
.The Fuerzas Populares de Liberación "Farabundo Martí" was a left wing guerrilla military and political organization in El Salvador...
(FPL), one of the five left-wing organizations that later merged to form the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN).
With the start of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1980, Sánchez Cerén adopted the pseudonym Commander Leonel González, as he was also appointed to the position. In 1984 he became a Commanding General of the FMLN, until the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords
Chapultepec Peace Accords
The Chapultepec Peace Accords brought peace to El Salvador in 1992 after more than a decade of wrenching civil war.The treaty was negotiated by representatives of the Salvadoran government, the rebel movement FMLN, and political parties, with observers from the Roman Catholic Church and United...
in 1992, when the guerrillas surrendered their weapons and became a legal political party.
In 2000, Sánchez Cerén was elected deputy for the FMLN in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of El Salvador
The Legislative Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of El Salvador.The Salvadoran legislature is a unicameral body....
and was re-elected in 2003 and 2006. Between 2001 and 2004 he served as the general coordinator of his party. In 2006, he succeeded the late politician Schafik Handal
Schafik Handal
Schafik Jorge Handal was a Salvadoran politician. Born in Usulután, he was the son of Palestinian Arab immigrants.-Biography:...
as head of the legislative portion of the FMLN. In April 2007 he was chosen as the running mate of Mauricio Funes
Mauricio Funes
Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena is the President of El Salvador. He won the 2009 presidential election as the candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front political party and took office on 1 June 2009.-Biography:Funes is married to Dr. Vanada Pignado, who was involved in...
in the 2009 presidential election. On March 15, Funes and Sánchez Cerén defeated the Nationalist Republican Alliance
Nationalist Republican Alliance
The Nationalist Republican Alliance is a conservative political party in El Salvador. It was founded on September 30, 1981, by Roberto D'Aubuisson, in order to oppose the reformist military junta that was ruling El Salvador at the time...
(ARENA), ending two decades of conservative rule in El Salvador.