Calderón Sol, Armando (1948– )

El Salvadorean right-wing politician, president from 1994. He was elected to serve as mayor of San Salvador 1988–94 and chair of the right-wing National Republican Alliance (ARENA) in 1990 and, as its candidate, won the May 1994 presidential election by a large margin in the run-off round.

Born in San Salvador, he studied law and social science at the University of El Salvador and, after working in an investment bank, became leader of ARENA in the Legislative Assembly from 1985. During his presidency, failure to combat the rising level of crime and concern at the polarizing effect of his government's free-market economic policy led to a rise in support for the left-of-centre opposition, the National Liberation Front (FMLN), at ARENA's expense.