San Salvador, March 4 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The son of Roberto d'Aubuisson, the infamous leader of right-wing death squads that terrorized the country in the 1980s, declared himself the winner in the race for mayor of Santa Tecla, a neighboring municipality of the capital of San Salvador.
Though official results have not been confirmed, this would mark the first time since 1997 that the municipality has not been governed by the left-wing Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front party. El Salvador Vice President Oscar Ortiz was the mayor of Santa Tecla for nearly 15 years before taking his current position.
Roberto d'Aubuisson Jr., declared himself the winner Monday, despite technical problems that are preventing the Supreme Electoral Tribunal from announcing official results. However his rival, Armando Flores of the FMLN, recognized d'Aubuisson's victory.
“I congratulate Roberto d'Aubuisson for having been elected mayor and I make myself available to work hand-in-hand so that Santa Tecla continues advancing along the path of development,” said Flores via his Twitter account.
Despite the right-wing victory in Santa Tecla, the FMLN won the majority of municipalities, including San Salvador.
The younger d'Aubuisson is a leading figure in the right-wing Republican Nationalist Alliance, or ARENA party, which was founded by his father. The elder d'Aubuisson, who was known as ‘Blow-Torch Bob’ by U.S. officials, was a major in the Salvadoran army and accused of numerous human right violations, including masterminding the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero.
