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On [[21 March]] [[2004]] he was elected [[President of El Salvador]] and, on [[1 June]] [[2004]], assumed the office vacated by current President [[Francisco Flores]]. Both Saca and Flores are members of the [[conservative]] [[Nationalist Republican Alliance]] party, generally known by its [[Spanish language|Spanish-language]] acronym ARENA.
ARENA, founded by death squad leader Mayor Roberto Daubuisson
Saca is descended from [[Palestinian]] immigrants who arrived in El Salvador in the early [[20th century]]. In addition to his political activities, he is a prominent businessman and broadcast journalist, specialising in sports radio.
During the election campaign, some commentators criticised Saca's scant political experience, but he defeated [[Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front|FMLN]] candidate [[Schafik Handal]] by a margin of 58% to 36%, with 70% voter turnout. With his embracing of the free-market and pro-[[United States|U.S.]] policies pursued by Flores, Saca was the clear favorite of [[George W. Bush|President Bush]]'s administration in the [[Salvadoran presidential election, 2004]]. Washington officials are confident that Saca will be able to maintain El Salvador's remarkably warm relations with the United States.
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{{succession box | before = [[Francisco Flores]]| title = [[President of El Salvador]]|years=[[2004]]–| after = (Incumbent)}}
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[[Category:1965 births|Saca, Antonio]]
[[Category:Presidents of El Salvador|Saca, Antonio]]
[[Category:Current national leaders|Saca]]
[[Category:Salvadoran politicians|Saca, Antonio]]
[[ca:Elías Antonio Saca González]]
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[[es:Elías Antonio Saca González]]
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[[gl:Antonio Saca]]
[[he:אנטוניו סאקה]]
[[nl:Antonio Saca]]
[[no:Antonio Saca]]
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[[pt:Antonio Saca]]
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