Mauricio Funes, Former President of El Salvador, Dies in Nicaragua

Mauricio Funes, former president of El Salvador, died at 65 in Nicaragua where he had lived since 2016 to escape corruption charges. He served as president from 2009 to 2014 and faced numerous legal issues post-presidency. Funes was known for his journalism and controversial policies during his term that included negotiations with gangs, leading to accusations of embezzlement and corruption.

Mauricio Funes, the former president of El Salvador, passed away on Tuesday in Nicaragua, where he had resided since 2016 to evade corruption charges. Nicaraguan authorities confirmed his demise, stating that he was 65 years old and died from a “serious chronic illness,” although specific details were omitted.

Funes fled El Salvador following the commencement of criminal investigations that led to five arrest warrants against him. Born in October 1959, he began his career as a journalist, gaining prominence for his war reporting and his popular interview show that uncovered political corruption.

In 2009, he transitioned from journalism to politics as the candidate for the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), serving as president from 2009 to 2014. His presidency was characterized by various social programs but marred by a controversial pact with gangs, which surfaced legally after his term ended, resulting in multiple corruption allegations.

Funes consistently contended that the charges against him were politically motivated and indicative of persecution by the Salvadoran right. After relocating to Nicaragua in 2016 with his family, he was granted Nicaraguan nationality, thereby avoiding extradition.

In absentia, he was sentenced in May 2023 to 14 years’ imprisonment for his gang pact. His political career coincided with a significant shift in El Salvador’s political landscape, ultimately giving way to the populist regime of President Nayib Bukele, whose administration has faced accusations of similar corruption and dealings with gangs.

Mauricio Funes served as president of El Salvador from 2009 until 2014, representing the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), a party based on leftist ideologies formed during the Salvadoran Civil War. Following his presidency, Funes faced numerous corruption allegations, including embezzlement and misuse of power, prompting his flight to Nicaragua in 2016. The political climate in El Salvador has shifted since his presidency, with Bukele’s New Ideas party taking over and the FMLN losing significant political ground.

The death of Mauricio Funes marks the end of a controversial chapter in Salvadoran politics. His legacy is complex, entwined with both social reforms and significant corruption allegations. As El Salvador continues to navigate its political challenges, Funes’s life and presidency remain a focal point in understanding the country’s evolving landscape.

Original Source: www.usnews.com