Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez arrives to a polling station during the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. Chavez is running for re-election against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (Photo: )
Hugo Chávez may have won the Venezuelan presidential election on Sunday, but in El Salvador he faced an overwhelming electoral defeat.
The city of Ilopango in the Central American country voted by a landslide to rename “Hugo Chávez” boulevard, which the previous mayor had instituted when she led the local government back in 2006, Spanish news wire EFE reports.
Only 13 of the 1,520 voters who cast ballots in the referendum voted to keep the street named “Hugo Chávez.” The citizens of Ilopango had a choice of six names, but settled on returning the boulevard to its old name of San Bartolo, which carried 80 percent of the votes.
Ilopango’s last mayor, Daysi Cruz of the leftwing Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional, changed the street’s name out of admiration for Venezuela’s president.
Venezuela gave aid to El Salvador after the 2001 earthquake and maintained a program called Operation Miracle that provides low-income people with free surgery to correct cataracts.
But Ilopango’s new Mayor Salvador Ruano of the rightwing party ARENA didn’t care for the name. He says Cruz changed the name by collecting 200 signatures, rather than consulting the voters.
Changing the name back by the letter of the law required some civic engagement on the part of Ruano, who held at least five open forums on the name change before holding the referendum.
In a contest he was more concerned about, on Sunday, Hugo Chávez won his third reelection as president of Venezuela, carrying 55 percent of the vote against challenger Henrique Capriles’ 46 percent. Chávez has held Venezuela’s presidency continuously since 1999.
Saluting His Supporters
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves a Venezuelan flag while speaking to supporters after receiving news of his reelection in Caracas on October 7, 2012. According to the National Electoral Council, Chavez was reelected with 54.42% of the votes, beating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, who obtained 44.97%. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/GettyImages)
Having Just Voted
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters in Caracas on October 07, 2012. Venezuelans voted Sunday with President Hugo Chavez's 14-year socialist revolution on the line as the leftist leader faced youthful rival Henrique Capriles in his toughest electoral challenge yet. AFP PHOTO/Luis Acosta (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/GettyImages)
Drinking Coffee During A Press Conference
Venezuelan President and presidential candidate Hugo Chavez drinks coffee during a press conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas on October 6, 2012. Chavez, in power for almost 14 years, is vying for a fourth term in office that would extend his presidency by another six years, but opposition candidate Henrique Capriles hopes to pull a major upset in the presidential elections on October 7 elections. PHOTO/Eitan Abramovich (Photo credit should read EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/GettyImages)
Reviewing Cadets
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez review cadets during the military inauguration ceremony of his new Defense Minister Gen. Henry Rangel Silva (not in frame) on January 17, 2012 in Caracas. AFP PHOTO/Leo RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Gesturing
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez gestures during a ceremony with elderly in Caracas on January 24, 2012. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)
Speaking Before Venezuela's Parliament
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaks before the Parliament in Caracas on January 13, 2012 during his annual report about the actions and accomplishments of his government. AFP PHOTO/Leo RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
With Nicaraguan President Ortega and Iranian President Ahmadinejad
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (L) Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez (C) and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Managua on January 10, 2012. Ahmadinejad and Chavez came to Nicaragua to attend the inauguration of president Daniel Ortega's third term. AFP PHOTO/Rodrigo ARANGUA (Photo credit should read RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP/Getty Images)
Decorating Peruvian President Humala
The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez (R), decorates his Peruvian counterpart Ollanta Humala, during a ceremony in Bolivar on January 7, 2012. Humala is on an official visit to Venezuela. AFP PHOTO/Leo RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Kissing The Hand Of Miss World 2011
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) kisses the hand of Venezuelan Miss World 2011 Ivian Sarcos (R) during a meting in Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, on January 04, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Leo RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images)
With Uruguayan President Mujica
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) is welcomed by Uruguayan President Jose Mujica during the XLII Mercosur Summit in Montevideo on December 20, 2011. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are Mercosur founding full members, while Venezuela is in the process of incorporation, and Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador are associate members. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL CASELLI (Photo credit should read DANIEL CASELLI/AFP/Getty Images)
With Painting Of Simón Bolivar
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures during a press conference at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on November 6, 2011. Chavez on Tuesday said that he will travel to Brazil on Sunday --after attending Argentine president Cristina Kirchner's inauguration-- to pay a visit to former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, affected by cancer, like himself. AFP PHOTO/Juan BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)
Singing on 'Amor Mayor' program
Venezulan President Hugo Chavez (L) sings with an elderly man during the launching of the 'Amor Mayor' programme, which seeks to help senior citizens, in Caracas on December 13, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Juan BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP/Getty Images)
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