Schafik Hándal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Schafik Hándal
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Schafik Hándal
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| Deputy in the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador | |
| In office 1 February 1997 – 24 January 2006 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | October 14, 1930 Usulután, El Salvador |
| Died | January 24, 2006 (aged 75) San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Political party | Communist Party of El Salvador Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front |
| Children | Jorge Shafik Hándal Vega |
| Website | http://www.fmln.org.sv/ |
Schafik Jorge Hándal Hándal (Arabic: شفيق جورج حنضل) was a Salvadoran politician. He was born on October 14, 1930, and passed away on January 24, 2006. He played a big role in the politics of El Salvador for many years.
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Life and Political Journey
Schafik Hándal was born in Usulután, El Salvador. His parents were immigrants from Bethlehem, a town in Palestine.
From 1973 to 1994, he was the leader of the Communist Party of El Salvador (PCES). At first, Hándal believed in using elections to gain political power. He did not support armed conflict.
However, after two elections in 1972 and 1977 were thought to be unfair, Hándal changed his mind. He became convinced that elections alone would not defeat the military government.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he became a guerrilla leader. He helped bring five different opposition groups together. These groups formed the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).
In 1992, a peace agreement called the Chapultepec Peace Accords was signed. After this, the FMLN changed from a fighting group into a political party. Hándal became its main leader. In 1997, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. There, he led the FMLN's group of politicians.
Presidential Election in 2004
Schafik Hándal ran for president in El Salvador's 2004 Salvadoran presidential election. The election happened on March 21, 2004. He ran on a left-leaning platform.
He wanted friendly relations with the United States. He also wanted to rethink free trade agreements. Hándal aimed for closer ties with socialist-leaning countries in Latin America. These included Cuba, Venezuela, and Brazil.
Some people accused Hándal of being against the United States. On the other hand, his supporters said the United States was trying to influence the election. This was because some high-ranking U.S. officials said that relations with El Salvador would be difficult if Hándal won.
Hándal lost the election to Antonio Saca. Saca was from the ruling Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) party. He also had Palestinian family roots. Saca won with 58 percent of the votes, while Hándal received 36 percent. About 70 percent of people voted in that election.
Death
Schafik Hándal passed away less than two years after the presidential election. He died on January 24, 2006, from a heart attack.
He collapsed at Comalapa Airport. He was returning from Bolivia, where he had attended the inauguration of President Evo Morales. He was quickly flown by helicopter to a hospital in San Salvador. However, doctors could not save him.
Awards and Recognitions
Schafik Hándal received several honors for his work. On January 16, 2004, he was given an honorary title. The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic named him a Professor of Political Science.
After his death, he was declared a "Meritorious Son of the City of San Salvador." This honor was given by the Mayor of San Salvador, Carlos Rivas Zamora. Members of the PARLACEN (Central American Parliament) also gave him an award for "Central American Merit Honor."
The Permanent Commission of Political Parties of Latin America (COPPPAL) also honored him. They gave him the "Luis Donaldo Colosio" order after he passed away.
On September 19, 2006, the University of El Salvador awarded him a special degree. It was a "Doctorate Honoris Causa Post Mortem." His son, Jorge Schafik Hándal Vega, accepted the award and a medal on his behalf.
Many people spoke highly of Hándal. The auxiliary Catholic bishop of San Salvador, Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chávez, said Hándal was the greatest politician in El Salvador in the 20th and early 21st centuries. The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, was very sad about Hándal's death. He called Hándal a great revolutionary.
See also
