Joel Sanchez ends his term as a presidential candidate

Joel Sánchez Maldonado ended his term as El Salvador’s presidential candidate and pledged to continue to support El Salvador with a message addressed to civil society, his party and whoever exercises the presidency from 2024 to 2029.

Sánchez was the presidential candidate for the ARENA party and his running mate was Hilsia Damaris Bonilla.

“Today marks the end of my enthusiastic and active participation as a candidate for the presidency of El Salvador. I thank all those who have been there throughout the campaign as civil society and supporters to jointly find democracy in El Salvador,” said Sánchez in a video published on his social network.

Interview with presidential candidates: “The primary issue is to recover the constitutional order”: Joel Sanchez

Sanchez admitted that the votes “didn’t favor him,” but that won’t stop him from continuing to work for his country.

“This will not stop me from continuing to work from my trenches, returning to civil society as a migrant and trader who has returned to my land with big dreams of growing together,” said the Salvadoran resident in the United States.

The businessman also acknowledged the involvement of his opponents, many of whom also reside in the United States. Sánchez called everyone’s participation “brave and historic” to defend the country’s democracy.

In the speech, Sánchez identified Deputy Buquel as the one chosen by the Salvadoran population to exercise the presidency. Meanwhile, the party is fighting to release ballot papers and ballot boxes and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal is yet to announce the official results of the election.

“May God bless El Salvador and grant wisdom to the President that the population decided to take this beloved nation to the best horizons,” he concluded in his speech.

In November, Sanchez reported a cyber attack on his electronic devices. According to him, he received alerts from his mobile phone and computer.

“And what is the fear? Why are they attacking me?” He posted via X (formerly Twitter).

In an interview with El Diario de Hoy, Sánchez assured that if he wins the presidency of the republic he will fight for the country’s legal security and to attract more investment and thus bet on employment.