Mauricio Funes, El Salvador’s first modern leftist president, died in Managua, Nicaragua on January 21, 2025, at 65 years old, following a heart attack. His presidency, which began in 2009, was marked by hopes of reform but ended in turmoil as he faced serious corruption charges leading to his exile.
Mauricio Funes, Former President of El Salvador, Passes Away at 65
Mauricio Funes, Former President of El Salvador, Passes Away at 65
Mauricio Funes, who fled to Nicaragua amid corruption allegations, died after battling a chronic illness.
On January 21, 2025, Mauricio Funes, former president of El Salvador, succumbed to a severe chronic illness in Managua, Nicaragua, revealing the complex legacy he left behind. He was 65. Funes initially garnered significant public support as a charismatic television journalist, winning the presidency in 2009, a pivotal moment for a nation grappling with the scars of civil war. His administration vowed to address endemic issues of crime and poverty that plagued the country.
However, after leaving office in 2014, Funes became embroiled in a series of corruption investigations. In 2016, he fled to Nicaragua, seeking refuge from mounting allegations regarding the embezzlement of approximately $351 million in public funds, which prosecutors claimed occurred during his administration. In May 2023, he was convicted in absentia and received a 14-year prison sentence for allegedly allowing criminal gangs, known as Maras, to gain financial and territorial power in exchange for reducing murder rates.
Moreover, within a year of his conviction, Funes was sentenced to more prison time due to tax evasion and for favoring a construction contract to a Guatemalan firm in exchange for a private plane. By his passing, he was under investigation on multiple fronts, illustrating a dramatic transformation from a leader once seen as a symbol of hope to one facing significant legal scrutiny.
However, after leaving office in 2014, Funes became embroiled in a series of corruption investigations. In 2016, he fled to Nicaragua, seeking refuge from mounting allegations regarding the embezzlement of approximately $351 million in public funds, which prosecutors claimed occurred during his administration. In May 2023, he was convicted in absentia and received a 14-year prison sentence for allegedly allowing criminal gangs, known as Maras, to gain financial and territorial power in exchange for reducing murder rates.
Moreover, within a year of his conviction, Funes was sentenced to more prison time due to tax evasion and for favoring a construction contract to a Guatemalan firm in exchange for a private plane. By his passing, he was under investigation on multiple fronts, illustrating a dramatic transformation from a leader once seen as a symbol of hope to one facing significant legal scrutiny.
