Former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes Dies in Exile at 65

Mauricio Funes, former president of El Salvador, died at 65 in Nicaragua where he lived to evade criminal charges. His presidency from 2009 to 2014 was marred by corruption allegations, yet he was a significant figure in the FMLN party. Despite his contributions as a journalist, his legacy is complicated by legal troubles and accusations of gang dealings.

Former El Salvador president Mauricio Funes passed away at the age of 65 in Nicaragua, where he had been living to escape numerous criminal sentences. The Nicaraguan Health Ministry reported that he succumbed to a serious chronic illness. Funes governed El Salvador from 2009 to 2014 and spent the last nine years under the protection of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who granted him citizenship to avoid extradition.

Funes faced significant legal challenges, including pending sentences totaling 28 years due to corruption and dealings with violent street gangs, yet he never served time in prison. His former party, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), lamented his death, highlighting Funes’s acceptance and popularity among both Salvadorans and the international community. Labor Minister Rolando Castro acknowledged Funes’s journalistic contributions despite recognizing the errors made during his presidency.

Born on October 18, 1959, in San Salvador, Funes initially worked as a teacher before establishing himself as a war correspondent and television journalist. He joined politics as a representative of the FMLN, winning the presidency in 2009 by defeating conservative candidate Rodrigo Ávila. His election marked a shift from the party’s anti-war stance, targeting a reformed image for the political landscape of El Salvador.

However, Funes’s legacy was marred by corruption allegations that escalated after he left office. After fleeing to Nicaragua in 2016, he maintained that the charges were politically motivated, despite being convicted in six trials in absentia. His last sentences included severe penalties for negotiating gang truces and accepting bribes associated with public contracts.

Funes’s presidency faced consistent challenges, leading the FMLN to a subsequent victory with President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, a former guerrilla commander. Relations between Funes and current President Nayib Bukele were contentious, with mutual accusations of corruption. Bukele, who has undertaken a rigorous campaign against gangs, has found himself in scrutiny over his own alleged negotiations with gang leaders.

Mauricio Funes served as the president of El Salvador from 2009 until 2014, associated with the leftist FMLN party, which rose from the civil war. His administration faced heavy scrutiny due to allegations of corruption, particularly in relation to gang negotiations and misuse of public funds. Fleeing to Nicaragua in 2016, Funes sought refuge under Ortega’s government, escaping extradition while his party’s influence waned in recent elections.

The death of Mauricio Funes marks the end of a tumultuous chapter in El Salvador’s political history. His presidency was shadowed by corruption allegations and gang-related controversies, leading to severe legal repercussions after he left office. While Funes had notable contributions as a journalist and a politician, his legacy remains ambiguous, reflecting both public support and profound public mistrust.

Original Source: www.bostonglobe.com