Former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes passed away in Nicaragua at the age of 65 due to a serious chronic illness. Funes, who governed El Salvador from 2009 to 2014, spent his final years in Nicaragua under the protection of President Daniel Ortega to avoid extradition.
During his presidency, Funes faced corruption charges and accusations of making deals with powerful street gangs. Despite being sentenced to over 26 years in prison, he never served time behind bars.
Funes, a journalist-turned-politician, rose to power with the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, a leftist party born out of El Salvador's civil war. His party acknowledged his contributions to investigative journalism and public opinion, as well as his presidency.
Throughout his career, Funes worked as a war reporter, hosted a popular interview show, and served as a correspondent for CNN. He won multiple awards for his journalistic work before entering politics.
Despite initial praise for his tenacity and problem-solving approach, Funes faced numerous corruption allegations during his presidency. He fled to Nicaragua in 2016, where he continued to deny the accusations of political persecution.
Several high-ranking officials from Funes' administration, including his ex-wife and former security minister, were also prosecuted for corruption-related charges.
His successor, President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, continued the FMLN's governance after Funes, despite the party's tarnished reputation. Funes' contentious relationship with current President Nayib Bukele led to public sparring and mutual accusations of dealings with gang leaders.
Bukele, who succeeded Sánchez Cerén, vehemently denied allegations of negotiating with gangs and pursued legal action against Funes for his alleged involvement with criminal organizations.
