Arturo Armando Molina

Arturo Armando Molina served as the president of El Salvador from 1972 to 1977. His presidency, along with that of his successor, General Carlos Humberto Romero, was marked by increasing public discontent and human rights abuses. Despite the growing opposition and the formation of popular front organizations, the government's response was primarily repressive. A notable incident during this period was the killing of at least a dozen university students in 1975 who were protesting the use of public funds for the Miss Universe contest. Molina's election was secured with the help of the paramilitary organization ORDEN, ensuring victory for his National Conciliation Party (PCN) over the Christian Democratic Party's candidate, José Napoleón Duarte.12