During the 60's, there was a moderately democratic political process in El Salvador, with the dominant party being the conservative Party of National Conciliation (PCN), aligned to dominant landowning interests. It's main opposition was the centrist Christian Democratic Party (PCD), founded by middle-class people and with a moderate reformist agenda. There were also some minor left-wing parties here and there.
After the Football War of 1969, that ended with the expulsion of Salvadorean immigrants in Honduras, the question of land distribution in the country became relevant. At first, the PCN managed to increase their support in the legislative and municipal elections of 1970, probably in the wake of nationalistic feelings after the war, but the opposition started to gain traction to the 1972 presidential elections. The PCD allied itself with some left-wing parties to form the National Opposing Union (UNO), and put it's most famous member, José Napoleón Duarte, then mayor of San Salvador, as their candidate. In their campaign they defended a moderate land reform.
Coming the 1972 elections, there was considerable government intimidation against the UNO, and coming the vote counting, that Duarte probably won, the government made a three-day news blackout, followed by the announcement that the PCN candidate, Arturo Armando Molina, had won the elections. A part of the military tried to coup Molina and put Duarte in charge, but their coup failed.
The Molina government became increasingly authoritarian, trying to supress a growing opposition, that was also becoming increasingly radical, with the failure of the democratic process. The 1977 election were even more blatantly rigged in favor of the PCN, and things finally exploded in 1979, with the start of the brutal Salvadorean Civil War, that ended only in 1992.
So, is there some way to avoid the stealing of the 1972 elections, allowing Duarte to became president in 1972? And how would be his government, and how would El Salvador be today in this scenario? Also, could this change have any international effects?
After the Football War of 1969, that ended with the expulsion of Salvadorean immigrants in Honduras, the question of land distribution in the country became relevant. At first, the PCN managed to increase their support in the legislative and municipal elections of 1970, probably in the wake of nationalistic feelings after the war, but the opposition started to gain traction to the 1972 presidential elections. The PCD allied itself with some left-wing parties to form the National Opposing Union (UNO), and put it's most famous member, José Napoleón Duarte, then mayor of San Salvador, as their candidate. In their campaign they defended a moderate land reform.
Coming the 1972 elections, there was considerable government intimidation against the UNO, and coming the vote counting, that Duarte probably won, the government made a three-day news blackout, followed by the announcement that the PCN candidate, Arturo Armando Molina, had won the elections. A part of the military tried to coup Molina and put Duarte in charge, but their coup failed.
The Molina government became increasingly authoritarian, trying to supress a growing opposition, that was also becoming increasingly radical, with the failure of the democratic process. The 1977 election were even more blatantly rigged in favor of the PCN, and things finally exploded in 1979, with the start of the brutal Salvadorean Civil War, that ended only in 1992.
So, is there some way to avoid the stealing of the 1972 elections, allowing Duarte to became president in 1972? And how would be his government, and how would El Salvador be today in this scenario? Also, could this change have any international effects?