SAN SALVADOR – Former Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, who served from 2009 to 2014, passed away on the night of January 21, 2025, at the age of 65, due to chronic health issues. The Nicaraguan Ministry of Health confirmed the news, attributing his death to "serious chronic illness." Funes had lived his last years exiled in Nicaragua to avoid multiple corruption convictions from his presidency and allegations of negotiating with gangs.
According to the Nicaraguan government, "Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena, ex-president of El Salvador, who resided here, has unfortunately passed away tonight at 9:35 PM local time (03:45 GMT on Wednesday) due to his severe chronic sickness". Earlier, it was noted by the health ministry, Funes was seen by various medical specialists since arriving in Nicaragua and was struggling with serious health complications.
Funes, who was sentenced to 14 years of prison for crimes associated with gang truce negotiations during his administration, had been living as a political asylum seeker after fleeing El Salvador. The Nicaraguan government extended citizenship to him, shielding him from extradition. His nationality was officially granted on July 30, 2019.
While serving office, Funes was widely criticized for corruption. Following his presidency, he accumulated over 26 years of prison sentences from various legal processes, primarily concerning the diversion of public funds totaling sums over $292 million, according to the Salvadoran Prosecutor's Office. His administration was marred by controversy, involving multiple ex-administrative officials and family members indicted for corruption.
Born on October 18, 1959, in San Salvador, Funes had originally made his mark as a war correspondent before transitioning to politics. His significant political rise began with the leftist party, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), which sought to emerge from the shadows of civil conflict to address social inequalities.
Funes led the FMLN to its first presidential victory after the guerrilla group entered the democratic political arena by winning against the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance party. His campaign emphasized themes of hope and change, capturing the imagination of voters tired of years of violence and instability.
“He is someone tenacious who does not shy away from difficulties and has as his greatest asset credibility”, commented Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez during Funes’s candidacy. His neighbor's hope for change was echoed by former Jesuit pastor and UCA rector, José Simeón Cañas, who said of Funes's intellect, “certainly with clear will to improve things.”
Despite earlier public optimism, Funes’s presidency became overshadowed with corruption allegations, leading to legal troubles and his eventual exile to Nicaragua. Following his escape, he claimed innocence amid claims of political persecution, but findings against him resulted from multiple judicial decisions confirming malfeasance during his administration.
Funes lived under the watchful eye of the Nicaraguan regime, previously led by Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, and enjoyed financial sustenance from the Nicaraguan government as former officials reported substantial salaries made from foreign assistance. Nicaragua’s constitution prohibits extraditing its citizens, enabling Funes to avoid legal repercussions back home.
The government of Daniel Ortega issued condolences, stating, “We express our heartfelt sympathies to his children, companion, and family, friends, and comrades here and in El Salvador.” The expression of condolence came alongside recognition of the country's efforts to help Funes during his declining health.
His administration's record of lowering homicide rates through negotiations with gangs – perceived by some as controversial acts of cooperation for the sake of public safety – sparked extensive debates and legal scrutiny after leaving office.
Disgraced following his exile, the political ramifications of Funes's decisions have impacted his former party, the FMLN, as its relevance diminished under the current wave of government led by Nayib Bukele, who now holds overwhelming power newly elected after Funes’s term. The findings of corruption cases stretched over his presidency have left adverse effects on FMLN's reputation, bringing it to the point of being virtually sidelined politically.
With Funes’s passing, the shadow of his leadership continues to loom over Salvadorans, raising questions about accountability and the future direction of governance within El Salvador. His life reflects not merely personal triumph from humble beginnings to presidency but also the complex legacy left behind from corruption and political strife, shaping the narratives of modern Salvadoran politics.
The discourse on Funes reveals the stark lines drawn in the Salvadoran political scene post-civil war, where former captains of the FMLN face the challenges of reconciliation, justice, and the unreconciled pain of a nation still grappling with its history.