El Salvador’s president: Left like Lula after all?

As Bart Beeson wrote for FP, El Salvador’s President-elect Mauricio Funes bills himself as a moderate leftist in the mold of Brazil’s Lula da Silva, even though his party was once an armed guerilla group. So far, as McClatchy’s Tyler Bridges writes, Funes seems to be following through. Yes, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez was the first ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.
587618_090319_funes2.jpg
587618_090319_funes2.jpg
Presidential candidate of the leftist Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN), Mauricio Funes waves during celebration in San Salvador on March 16, 2009. Funes completed a historic journey for his party of former rebels after winning El Salvador's presidential elections and ending two decades of right-wing rule. AFP PHOTO/ Jose CABEZAS (Photo credit should read Jose CABEZAS/AFP/Getty Images)

As Bart Beeson wrote for FP, El Salvador's President-elect Mauricio Funes bills himself as a moderate leftist in the mold of Brazil's Lula da Silva, even though his party was once an armed guerilla group. So far, as McClatchy's Tyler Bridges writes, Funes seems to be following through.

As Bart Beeson wrote for FP, El Salvador’s President-elect Mauricio Funes bills himself as a moderate leftist in the mold of Brazil’s Lula da Silva, even though his party was once an armed guerilla group. So far, as McClatchy’s Tyler Bridges writes, Funes seems to be following through.

Yes, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez was the first to call to congratulate him on his victory, but Funes will be making his first official trip to Brazil rather than Venezuela and he met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon at the American embassy in San Salvador yesterday. 

It’s still early of course, but it’s looking like the first Latin American leader elected since Obama took office might be one he can work with. Could Chavez be losing his touch?

Jose CABEZAS/AFP/Getty Images

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

More from Foreign Policy

Residents evacuated from Shebekino and other Russian towns near the border with Ukraine are seen in a temporary shelter in Belgorod, Russia, on June 2.
Residents evacuated from Shebekino and other Russian towns near the border with Ukraine are seen in a temporary shelter in Belgorod, Russia, on June 2.

Russians Are Unraveling Before Our Eyes

A wave of fresh humiliations has the Kremlin struggling to control the narrative.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shake hands in Beijing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shake hands in Beijing.

A BRICS Currency Could Shake the Dollar’s Dominance

De-dollarization’s moment might finally be here.

Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in an episode of The Diplomat
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in an episode of The Diplomat

Is Netflix’s ‘The Diplomat’ Factual or Farcical?

A former U.S. ambassador, an Iran expert, a Libya expert, and a former U.K. Conservative Party advisor weigh in.

An illustration shows the faces of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin interrupted by wavy lines of a fragmented map of Europe and Asia.
An illustration shows the faces of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin interrupted by wavy lines of a fragmented map of Europe and Asia.

The Battle for Eurasia

China, Russia, and their autocratic friends are leading another epic clash over the world’s largest landmass.