Former President Mauricio Funes of El Salvador Dies in Exile at 65

Mauricio Funes, former president of El Salvador, died in exile in Nicaragua at age 65. He faced significant corruption charges and lived under the protection of President Daniel Ortega to avoid extradition. Funes’s political career was marked by governance challenges and later convictions related to his administration’s dealings with gangs.

Mauricio Funes, the former president of El Salvador, has passed away in Nicaragua at the age of 65, where he lived in exile to evade numerous criminal charges. According to Nicaragua’s Health Ministry, he succumbed to a serious chronic illness. Funes governed El Salvador from 2009 to 2014 but spent the last years of his life under the protection of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, which granted him citizenship to prevent extradition.

Despite his controversial legacy, as he faced corruption charges and accusations of collusion with gangs, Funes was a notable figure in El Salvador’s political history. He was born in San Salvador on October 18, 1959, worked as a journalist, and was a member of the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) when he won the presidency in 2009. During his presidency, he made a significant impact as a fresh face in politics and was once seen as a solution to the country’s problems.

However, after leaving office, Funes was embroiled in corruption allegations, leading him to flee to Nicaragua in 2016. He faced multiple trials, receiving sentences for his actions during his tenure, including negotiating a gang truce that lowered homicide rates at the cost of providing gang members with privileges. His criminal record reflects a complex legacy as former officials from his administration also faced similar charges.

Despite the controversies surrounding his presidency, Funes’s administration saw continuity in FMLN leadership, highlighted by Salvador Sánchez Cerén’s presidency from 2014 to 2019. The political arena in El Salvador has continued to evolve, particularly with the current president Nayib Bukele, who has been critical of Funes and his previous administration’s dealings with gangs, while also facing his accusations.

Mauricio Funes served as the president of El Salvador from 2009 to 2014 under the FMLN party, rooted in the country’s civil war legacy. His governance has been associated with significant political shifts as he attempted to redefine the FMLN’s image. However, his administration later faced serious accusations of corruption and collaboration with street gangs, resulting in multiple convictions after he fled to Nicaragua to avoid legal repercussions. His life and legacy reflect the turbulent political landscape of El Salvador.

The death of Mauricio Funes marks a pivotal moment in El Salvador’s history, highlighting the contentious relationship between politics and corruption within the nation. Although celebrated for his rise from a journalist to president, Funes’s legacy is overshadowed by his exile and criminal convictions. His life’s work and subsequent downfall serve as a significant example of the challenges faced by leaders in the region, as they navigate issues of governance, legality, and political survival.

Original Source: www.bostonglobe.com