Nationalist Republican Alliance
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Alianza Republicana Nacionalista
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| Leader | Rodrigo Avila |
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| Founded | September 30, 1981 |
| Headquarters | San Salvador, El Salvador |
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| Ideology | Conservatism, Nationalism, Neoliberalism |
| International affiliation | International Democrat Union |
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| Website www.arena.com.sv |
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The Nationalist Republican Alliance (Spanish: Alianza Republicana Nacionalista or ARENA) 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. Though D'Aubisson is best known for his involvement in very many death squad murders, as was the ARENA of his time, in the peaceful post-civil war environment, the party functions with complete legitimacy as a normal right-wing party, in the same way that the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), the former guerrilla group, known for opposing the government during the Salvadoran Civil War, is now the main opposition party in the country. ARENA has controlled the presidency continuously since 1989.
In the early 1980s, the Reagan administration spent millions of dollars opposing Major Roberto 'Aubuisson's campaign for president, opting instead to support Jose Napoleon Duarte of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) who was seen as the only middle of the road option. Since the 1992 Peace Accords, ARENA has proposed a right-wing agenda, politically and economically. They welcome foreign investment, dollarized their economy, and support free trade with the U.S. and Central America. ARENA has similarities to the U.S. GOP in that it appeals to a broad cross section of successful managerial and professional citizens.
At the legislative elections, held on March 16, 2003, the party won 32.0% of the popular vote and 27 out of 84 seats in the Legislative Assembly. ARENA's successful candidate in El Salvador's 2004 presidential election was Tony Saca. On March 21, 2004, Saca defeated Schafik Handal, the candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, by a margin of 58% to 36% with 70% turnout. He was sworn in as president the following June 1. In the 12 March 2006 legislative election, the party won 39.4% of the popular vote and 32 out of 84 seats.
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