Why would anyone now expect the FMLN to work with ARENA?

I might have something later but why in the world but why would anyone now expect the FMLN to work with ARENA?

Let's see, ARENA made up a double-digit loss in the first round and margin in the polls by working with the media and its domestic and international allies to link the FMLN to the chaos in Venezuela. They claim that the FMLN is in bed with the MS-13 and other gangs. They say that the FMLN is full of people involved in drug trafficking.

ARENA called into doubt the country's democratic institutions by attacking the much improved Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). They called on the armed forces to stay alert if they were needed to "save" democracy. That is so 1960s. They are demanding that the TSE violate the mutually agreed upon electoral rules and do something that is not called (recount every single vote).

It's not as if the FMLN is comprised of a bunch of angels. It is perfectly possible that they act in a heavy-handed authoritarian manner at some point in the future a la Chavez or Ortega. But what is clear is that ARENA has once again shown its true anti-democratic stripes while Sanchez Ceren has called for unity. I know - much easier said when the first count put you up by nearly 7,000 votes and the final scrutiny confirmed the victory but still. No calls about heading to the mountains to defend democracy.

I was pretty optimistic that the FMLN and ARENA would be able to work together when the campaign season was behind them. However, given the manner in which last week's election and post-election procedures unraveled and with congressional and municipal elections one year away, I'm no longer that optimistic. Maybe I shouldn't have been in the first place.

But I wouldn't blame the FMLN for not working with ARENA now even if that might be what the country needs.