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Milena Calderon Sol de EscalonSalvadoran businesswoman and right-wing politician
Date of Birth: 01.01.1945
Country:  Salvador |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Involvement in Politics
- Parliamentarian and Party Leader
- Conservative Values and Pragmatic Approach
- Business Ventures
- Mayor of Santa Ana
- Personal Life and Beliefs
Carmen Elena Calderón Sol de Escalón: A Prominent Salvadoran Politician and Businesswoman
Early Life and Family
Carmen Elena Calderón Sol de Escalón was born into a prominent family in El Salvador. Her paternal grandfather, José Tomás Calderón, served as a general in the Salvadoran army and Minister of the Interior during the dictatorship of Maximiliano Hernández Martínez. Her paternal uncle, Armando Calderón Nuila, was the lawyer and legal advisor to the leader of the Salvadoran far-right, Major Roberto d'Aubuisson.
From a young age, Calderón Sol absorbed the family's conservative and anti-communist worldview. She attended the medical school of the University of El Salvador and worked as a hematologist in a clinical laboratory. She also developed an interest in the coffee business, aspiring to own a plantation. However, her family's landholdings were confiscated during the land reform implemented by the Revolutionary Government Junta in the early 1980s, reinforcing her right-wing views.
Involvement in Politics
The outbreak of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1979 and the loss of their land prompted the Calderón Sol family to enter politics. Roberto d'Aubuisson, a long-time family friend and client, offered them a platform. Calderón Sol saw d'Aubuisson as a strong leader who could combat the communist forces and stabilize the country. She and her brother, Armando, joined d'Aubuisson's newly formed right-wing party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
Within ARENA, the Calderón Sol siblings assumed leadership positions and became part of d'Aubuisson's inner circle. They represented the "civilian" wing of the party, refraining from direct involvement in the war or the death squads. Armando focused on legal issues, while Milena handled financial matters. Both took a hardline stance on the Civil War, fully supporting d'Aubuisson's military approach. In 1985, Milena Calderón Sol was elected mayor of her hometown, Santa Ana, a position she held until 1990.
Parliamentarian and Party Leader
In the latter stages of the Civil War and its aftermath, figures like Calderón Sol rose to prominence within ARENA under President Alfredo Cristiani. In the 1991 elections, Milena Calderón Sol was elected to the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, where she served as a deputy for nearly three decades. She headed the budget and finance parliamentary committees and the international affairs commission.
During the presidency of her brother, Armando Calderón Sol (1994-1999), Milena led ARENA's parliamentary faction and served as the party's vice president. She played a key role in promoting her brother's neoliberal economic policies, including the privatization of the state-owned telephone company, ANTEL, and pension funds. She maintained her political influence under the following president, Francisco Flores, becoming a close advisor and shaping policy decisions.
Conservative Values and Pragmatic Approach
On social issues, Calderón Sol de Escalón holds conservative views, advocating for traditional family values and opposing same-sex marriage and abortion rights. She does not support gender quotas in government or business.
Despite her adherence to the far-right legacy of ARENA, Calderón Sol de Escalón has shown a pragmatic approach to politics. She has called for updating the party in line with democratic values and has demonstrated skills in political negotiations, including compromise agreements with the left-wing FMLN, ARENA's historical rival.
Business Ventures
In addition to her political career, Calderón Sol de Escalón is also a successful businesswoman. She is a vocal critic of corruption and advocates for a modest lifestyle for politicians. However, she has amassed significant wealth. From 1992 to 2017, she and her husband, Carlos Mauricio Escalón Pacas, co-owned the clothing manufacturing and export company Exportadores Monederos Díaz Calderón (Exmodica). She is also involved in the coffee industry and owns various real estate properties.
Calderón Sol de Escalón's family fortune amounts to approximately $2.2 million, making her one of the wealthiest deputies in the Salvadoran parliament. She attributes her wealth to an inheritance from her father rather than her own business activities.
Mayor of Santa Ana
In January 2018, Calderón Sol de Escalón announced her departure from parliament and her candidacy for mayor of Santa Ana. Her platform focused on budget transparency, environmental initiatives, internet access, and waste management. She pledged to create jobs and attract private investment while revitalizing public spaces.
In the municipal elections of March 2018, Calderón Sol de Escalón was elected mayor of Santa Ana, along with several other ARENA candidates in major cities, including San Salvador and Santa Tecla. She reiterated her campaign promises and vowed to leverage her experience.
Personal Life and Beliefs
Calderón Sol de Escalón is married to Carlos Mauricio Escalón and has three children and nine grandchildren. She identifies primarily as a mother and grandmother.
She enjoys beach soccer and contemporary literature. The Bible is her favorite book.
Despite her family's involvement in controversial historical events, Calderón Sol de Escalón strongly defends her grandfather and President Hernández Martínez. She believes their actions, while harsh, prevented El Salvador from falling to communism. She also has a positive view of the role played by Major d'Aubuisson.
