Mauricio Funes

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = His Excellency{{cite web|url=https://www.oas.org/en/member_states/member_state.asp?sCode=ELS|title=Member State: El Salvador – Government Officials|language=en|access-date=4 January 2025|work=Organization of American States|date=August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910204601/http://www.oas.org/en/member_states/member_state.asp?sCode=ELS|archive-date=10 September 2011|url-status=live}}

| name = Mauricio Funes

| image = Mauricio Funes (Brasilia, May 2008).jpg

| image_size =

| alt = Funes during an official trip to Brasilia to meet President Lula, May 2008

| caption = Funes in 2008

| order = 79th

| office = President of El Salvador

| term_start = 1 June 2009

| term_end = 1 June 2014

| vicepresident = Salvador Sánchez Cerén

| predecessor = Antonio Saca

| successor = Salvador Sánchez Cerén

| birth_name = Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena

| birth_date = {{birth date|1959|10|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = San Salvador, El Salvador

| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|01|21|1959|10|28|df=y}}

| death_place = Managua, Nicaragua

| citizenship = {{plainlist|

El Salvador
Nicaragua (from 2019)

}}

| party = FMLN

| spouse = {{marriage|Vanda Pignato|1993|2014|end=Separated}}

| partner = Ada Mitchell Guzmán (2014–2025)

| children = 4

| module = Criminal information{{Infobox criminal

| child = yes

| charge = Illicit enrichment, tax evasion and corruption

| conviction_penalty = {{plainlist|

14 years in prison
(Negotiations relating to the 2012–2014 Salvadoran gang truce)
6 years in prison
(Tax evasion and Corruption)

}}

| conviction_status = Deceased

}}

Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena (18 October 1959 – 21 January 2025) was a Salvadoran politician and journalist who served as the 79th president of El Salvador from 2009 to 2014. Funes won the 2009 presidential election as the candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) party and took office on 1 June 2009.

Funes resided in exile in Nicaragua from 2016 until his death, while his immediate family continues to reside there, following allegations of criminal conduct during his tenure. In July 2023, he was placed under sanctions by the U.S. State Department following his conviction in absentia for negotiations related to the gang truces he made while in office, illicit enrichment, and tax evasion.{{Cite web |title=State Department sanctions 2 former Salvadoran leaders, dozens of officials in Central America |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/state-department-sanctions-2-former-salvadoran-leaders-dozens-101495380 |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=ABC News |language=en}} Funes died in exile in Nicaragua in 2025.

Early life and education

Funes was born in San Salvador. He received his high school diploma (bachillerato) from the Externado San José,{{cite web|url=http://mauriciofunespresidente.com/biografia_mauricio_funes.php?position=militancia |title=Mauricio Funes (Biography) |work=Mauricio Funes: Un cambio seguro |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319033016/http://mauriciofunespresidente.com/biografia_mauricio_funes.php?position=militancia |archive-date=19 March 2009 }} and studied at Universidad Centroamericana but did not graduate.{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1525333/Mauricio-Funes |title=Mauricio Funes (president of El Salvador)|publisher=Britannica Online Encyclopaedia }} Both Externado and UCA are Jesuit institutions, and Funes has mentioned his relationship to the Jesuits murdered by the Salvadoran military in 1989 as being of particular significance in his professional and personal development.{{cite web|url=http://www.uca.edu.sv/web_martires/nota.php?id=19|title=Mártires jesuitas reciben Orden José Matías Delgado |access-date=25 April 2011 |language=es}} In 1994 he was awarded the Maria Moors Cabot prize from Columbia University for promoting press freedom and inter-American understanding.{{Cite news|title=4 awards for Latin American Coverage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/27/world/4-awards-for-latin-american-coverage.html | work=The New York Times | date=27 October 1994 | access-date=12 May 2010}}

Career in journalism

Prior to his involvement with the politics of El Salvador, Funes was a journalist who hosted a popular interview show on television. He made appearances on Channel 12 and CNN en Español,{{Cite news|first=William |last=Booth |title=In El Salvador Vote, Big Opportunity for Leftists |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/08/AR2009030801775.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=9 March 2009 |access-date=11 March 2009}} where he worked as a correspondent from 1991 to 2007,{{Cite news|first=Marcos |last=Aleman |title=Former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes who lived in exile in Nicaragua dies at 65 |url=https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-president-mauricio-funes-dies-nicaragua-1a7e14e70eb64fc0d3289c51432c038b |work=AP News |date=22 January 2025 |access-date=22 January 2025}} and also hosted local news programs which were critical of previous governments. He was a reporter during the Salvadoran Civil War and interviewed leftist rebel leaders. It was during this time that he became more sympathetic to leftists in El Salvador, and he considered himself to be center-left.[https://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE52F1CC20090316?sp=true Factbox: Salvadoran President-elect Mauricio Funes]. Reuters 16 March 2009. Retrieved on 16 March 2009.

Campaign and presidency

Funes was nominated to be the FMLN candidate on 28 September 2007 and competed in the 2009 presidential election against the Nationalist Republican Alliance's candidate Rodrigo Ávila, a former deputy director of the National Police. Funes received 51.32% of the popular vote, thus winning election in a single round. He was the country's second left-leaning president (the first being Arturo Araujo in 1931), as well as the first FMLN party leader not to have fought in the Salvadoran civil war. His swearing-in on 1 June was the first peaceful transition of power since the end of the Civil War.{{cite web |last1=Goodfriend |first1=Hilary |title=El Salvador's Backslide |url=https://nacla.org/news/2019/02/14/el-salvador’s-backslide |publisher=North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) |access-date=22 January 2025 |date=14 February 2019}}

His presidential campaign was defined by statements endorsing moderate political policies.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7944899.stm Left-winger wins El Salvador poll]. BBC News 16 March 2009. Retrieved on 16 March 2009. He promised to improve programs such as health care in rural areas and crime prevention.{{Cite news| title = Left Turn | newspaper = The Economist | page = 40 | date = 21–27 March 2009 }} Political opponents stated that Funes's election would herald an era of Venezuelan influence but he insisted that "integration with Central America and strengthening relations with North America will be the priority of our foreign policy".[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/16/el-salvador-presidential-election-funes Journalist Mauricio Funes wins El Salvador presidency]. The Guardian 16 March 2009. Retrieved on 16 March 2009. Funes also promised to keep the U.S. dollar as El Salvador's official currency (dollarization took place in 2001 under President Francisco Flores Pérez).

= As President =

After coming to power, Funes's administration implemented a wide range of social reforms designed to combat poverty and inequality, including the institution of various poverty alleviation programs in the most impoverished communities,{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-stephens/whats-really-happening-in_b_627066.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Sarah | last=Stephens | title=What's Really Happening in El Salvador? | date=28 June 2010}} the abolition of public health care fees,[http://democracyinamericas.org/pdfs/The_First_Hundred_Days_of_President_Mauricio_Funes.pdf A New Chapter for El Salvador: The First Hundred Days of President Mauricio Funes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814121600/http://democracyinamericas.org/pdfs/The_First_Hundred_Days_of_President_Mauricio_Funes.pdf |date=14 August 2011 }}. Center for Democracy in the Americas. 9 November 2009 the introduction of free shoes, meals and uniforms for schoolchildren, the distribution of property titles to hundreds of families,{{cite web |last1=Freedman |first1=Elaine |title=The First 100 Days: Successes, Silences, Threats, Blackmail… and Challenges |url=https://www.revistaenvio.org/articulo/4079 |publisher=Revista Envío |access-date=22 January 2025 |date=October 2009}} the introduction of monthly cash transfers and job training for those living in extreme poverty, and pensions for the elderly.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Split+with+the+past%3a+with+Panama%27s+Ricardo+Martinelli+and+EL...-a0221432355 |title=Split with the past: with Panama's Ricardo Martinelli and EL Salvador's Mauricio Funes both Looking to be paradigms for successful government in the Americas, will ideology take a backseat to ruling from the center?|publisher=Thefreelibrary.com }} In addition, investments were made in improving school infrastructure,[http://www.coha.org/education-reform-gets-high-marks-in-el-salvador/ Education Reform Gets High Marks in El Salvador]. Coha.org (5 March 2012). Retrieved on 5 October 2013. a presidential decree was issued against discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation in the public services, two working groups on indigenous affairs were created as a means of bringing about better representation of the interests of El Salvador's indigenous communities,[http://www.bti-project.org/countryreports/lac/slv/ 2012: Transformationsindex] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113060540/http://www.bti-project.org/countryreports/lac/slv/ |date=13 November 2012 }}. Bti-project.org. Retrieved on 5 October 2013. a community health plan was introduced,Ayala, Edgardo (27 July 2011) [http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/07/el-salvador-growing-tension-between-funes-and-ruling-leftwing-party/ EL SALVADOR: Growing Tension Between Funes and Ruling Leftwing Party]. ipsnews.net teachers' salaries were increased, and measures were introduced to combat illiteracy.[http://upsidedownworld.org/main/el-salvador-archives-74/3996-us-el-salvador-threats-to-privatize-education-meet-international-resistance US-El Salvador: Threats to Privatize Education Meet International Resistance]. Upsidedownworld.org (29 November 2012). Retrieved on 5 October 2013.

Upon his inauguration on 1 June 2009, Funes resumed diplomatic relations with Cuba. El Salvador previously suspended diplomatic relations with Cuba 50 years ago due to the Cuban Revolution.{{cite web|url=http://www.elsalvador.org/Embajadas/eeuu/Prensa2.nsf/67c8b047c4924b4a85256997006cc1ff/573d8acfc91c4a0e852575d70078029e?OpenDocument |title=EL SALVADOR AND CUBA REESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS |access-date=15 February 2010 |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615235246/http://www.elsalvador.org/Embajadas/eeuu/Prensa2.nsf/67c8b047c4924b4a85256997006cc1ff/573d8acfc91c4a0e852575d70078029e?OpenDocument |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=1 June 2009 |archive-date=15 June 2011 }}

In November 2009, President Funes had to face the natural disaster that greatly affected communities in Cuscatlán, San Salvador and San Vicente as a result of the rain brought by Hurricane Ida. A community in San Vicente called Verapaz disappeared because it was buried by huge rocks that fell from the nearby volcano. Civil Protection, which is the government entity in charge of handling catastrophes, rehabilitated public schools in which refugees stayed for more than three months while they found a place to stay from family or friends. The Army and the Red Cross of El Salvador rescued many people from the communities.{{cite news |title=Desperate search in El Salvador |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8350894.stm |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=BBC News |date=9 November 2009}}{{cite news |title=Dozens dead in El Salvador flooding, mudslides |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna33769740 |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=NBC News |date=8 November 2009}}

A pension was created for soldiers and guerrillas maimed during the civil war. On the anniversary of the peace agreement, Mauricio Funes acknowledged on behalf of the state the participation of the Armed Forces in war crimes and apologized to the victims. He was criticized by the leader of the right-wing opposition, Armando Calderón, who said that "the State should never apologize".{{Cite journal |author=Eugenia López Velásquez |date=2017 |title=Prácticas autoritarias y democráticas de poder en El Salvador. Tendencias en el pasado y en el presente. |url=https://www.lamjol.info/index.php/rhcs/article/view/6624 |website=Universidad de El Salvador|issue=9 }}

Funes was criticized{{cite web|url=http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_opinion.asp?idCat=6342&idArt=4505386 |title=La batalla presidencial contra la delincuencia |publisher=Elsalvador.com |date= 9 February 2010|author=Ponce, Carlos }} for lack of a plan to fight El Salvador's increased crime. In response, the President ordered the deployment of the army to cooperate with police authorities in their fight against crime.Ayala, Edgardo (13 November 2009) [http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49251 EL SALVADOR: More Troops on the Streets to Fight Crime] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610220801/http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49251 |date=10 June 2011 }}. ipsnews.net In 2010, there were reports of death squads operating in El Salvador, due in part to a lack of response of the police.{{cite web|url=http://www.havanatimes.org/sp/?p=3052 |title=Grupos de exterminio vuelven a El Salvador|publisher=Havanatimes.org |date= 16 February 2010 | author=Ayala, Edgardo |work=Havana Times en español }}

In January 2010, after a public denouncement of Funes's former cabinet member Francisco Gómez, Salvadoran media uncovered plans whereby almost all government publicity and advertising were to be handled, without any previous public tendering process (as required by Salvadoran Law), by advertising agency Polistepeque, S.A. de C.V. Some advisers to the president were members of its board of directors, and allegedly Funes himself had some participation through stock in that agency.{{cite web|url=http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/25133/Mauricio-Funes-le-daria-toda-la-publicidad-del-gobierno-a-empresa-de-amigos |title=Mauricio Funes le daría toda la publicidad del gobierno a empresa de amigos|publisher=Lapagina.com.sv |date= 10 January 2010}} In response, Funes said no other advertising agency in El Salvador had the experience or capacity to manage government publicity and advertising, despite the fact that El Salvador has many local and international advertising agencies such as BBDO.{{cite web|url=http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/25355/Funes-defiende-asignacion-publicitaria-a-Polistepeque |title=Funes defiende asignación publicitaria a Polistepeque|publisher=Lapagina.com.sv |date= 12 January 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/25471/Publicistas-en-El-Salvador-piden-a-Funes-cancelar-contrato-con-empresa-de-su-amigo-personal |title=Publicistas en El Salvador piden a Funes cancelar contrato con empresa de su amigo personal |publisher=Lapagina.com.sv |date= 14 January 2010}}

In 2016, Funes denied giving perks to gangs during the 2012–14 truce.{{cite web|url=https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/former-el-salvador-president-denies-giving-perks-to-gangs/|last1=Daugherty|first1=Arron|date=8 February 2016|title=Former El Salvador President Denies Giving Perks to Gangs|work=InSight Crime|access-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213010604/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/former-el-salvador-president-denies-giving-perks-to-gangs/|archive-date=13 February 2023|url-status=live}}

Criminal charges

On 10 February 2016, the Salvadoran Supreme Court ruled that Funes would face a civil trial for charges of illegally laundering more than $700,000 in personal bank accounts.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-corruption-idUSKCN0VK00Q | title=Ex-president of El Salvador faces trial over source of $700,000 | date=10 February 2016 | publisher=Reuters | first1=Nelson | last1=Renteria | first2=Anna | last2=Yukhananov | first3=Lisa | last3=Shumaker | access-date=11 May 2017 }} Nicaragua granted Funes political asylum, who was accused of illicit enrichment in El Salvador.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/06/mauricio-funes-el-salvador-president-nicaragua-asylum|title=Former El Salvador president granted asylum in Nicaragua, government says|work=The Guardian |date=6 September 2016|access-date=27 December 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}} Mauricio Funes was not able to justify personal transactions of over $600,000. The formal accusation against Funes stated that he and his family increased their assets without justification for an amount of over US$728,000.{{cite news|last1=Delcid|first1=Merlín|title=Admiten demanda por presunto enriquecimiento ilícito contra el expresidente Funes de El Salvador|url=http://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2016/05/08/admiten-demanda-por-presunto-enriquecimiento-ilicito-contra-el-expresidente-funes-de-el-salvador/#more-283542|access-date=9 October 2017 |publisher=CNN}} The income of the President of El Salvador in 2015, one year after Funes left office, was US$5,181.72 per month.{{Cite news|url=http://www.estrategiaynegocios.net/lasclavesdeldia/821322-330/cu%C3%A1l-es-el-presidente-que-m%C3%A1s-gana-en-el-mundo|title=¿Cuál es el presidente que más gana en el mundo?|last=Contreras|first=Clauria|date=11 March 2015|work=Revista Estrategia & Negocios|access-date=27 July 2017}} On 28 November 2017, El Salvador's second civil court found Funes guilty of illegal enrichment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-corruption/salvador-court-finds-ex-president-funes-illegally-enriched-himself-idUSKBN1DS2VP|title=Salvador court finds ex-president Funes illegally enriched himself|date=28 November 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=28 November 2017}} The sentence was against Funes and his son who was with him in Nicaragua under asylum protection, ordering that they had to restitute $420,000 to the state.{{Cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/el-salvador-president-funes-guilty-illicit-enrichment-51441967|title=El Salvador: Ex-President Funes guilty of illicit enrichment|work=ABC News|access-date=10 December 2017|language=en}} In 2019, Interpol rejected twice the arrest request against Funes.{{Cite web|date=28 February 2019|title=Interpol rejects El Salvador arrest request for ex-president|url=https://apnews.com/article/1f7f26749cf747e0aa8934b68f3485ed|access-date=2 March 2021|website=AP NEWS}}{{Cite web|date=24 September 2018|title=El Salvador: No Interpol red notice for ex-President Funes|url=https://apnews.com/article/b96aa38253084429b518844665558c28|access-date=2 March 2021|website=AP NEWS}}

On 29 May 2023, Funes was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison because of negotiations related to the gang truces he made while in office.{{Cite web |date=29 May 2023 |title=Ex-El Salvador President Mauricio Funes sentenced to 14 years for negotiating with gangs |url=https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-president-mauricio-funes-sentenced-70a77555aa50ac517be659b65cab6d1a |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Renteria |first=Nelson |date=29 May 2023 |title=El Salvador court sentences ex-President Funes to 14 years in prison |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvador-court-sentences-ex-president-funes-14-years-prison-2023-05-29/ |access-date=29 May 2023}} On 6 July, he was sentenced to an additional six years for tax evasion.{{Cite web |title=El Salvador sentences former president to 6 years in jail – DW – 07/06/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/el-salvador-sentences-former-president-to-6-years-in-jail/a-66130637 |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}} In July 2023 he was placed under sanctions by the U.S. State department.

Personal life

Funes's brother was killed by police during the Salvadoran Civil War.{{Cite web|title=Mauricio Funes: journalist turned El Salvador president |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250122-mauricio-funes-journalist-turned-el-salvador-president |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=France 24}} His oldest son, Alejandro Funes Velasco, was murdered in Paris in 2007 aged 27.{{cite web |url=http://chichicaste.blogcindario.com/2007/10/00682-comunicado-oficial-sobre-la-muerte-de-alejandro-funes-hijo-de-mauricio-funes.html |title=Fallece en París Alejandro Funes, hijo del periodista Mauricio Funes |date=11 October 2007 |access-date=11 March 2009 |work=Chichicaste |language=es |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015014017/http://chichicaste.blogcindario.com/2007/10/00682-comunicado-oficial-sobre-la-muerte-de-alejandro-funes-hijo-de-mauricio-funes.html |url-status=dead }}

Funes was married to Vanda Pignato, who served as his first lady and as secretary of social inclusion in his cabinet.{{cite web |title=Curriculum: Vanda Pignato |url=https://www.transparencia.gob.sv/institutions/9/officials/5337 |website=Portal de Transparencia |publisher=Government of El Salvador |access-date=23 January 2025}}{{Cite news|first=Ken |last=Ellingwood |title=In El Salvador, journalist may lead leftists to center stage |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-26-fg-elsalvador26-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |page=2 |date=26 June 2008 |access-date=11 March 2009}} They had one son, Gabriel. In October 2014, Funes publicly acknowledged that he and Pignato had separated.{{cite news |first=Emilio |last=Corea |title=Mauricio Funes confirma estar separado de Vanda Pignato |url=http://elblog.com/noticias/registro-17037.html |work=El Blog |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=17 January 2016 |archive-date=3 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103025629/http://elblog.com/noticias/registro-17037.html |url-status=dead }} The political asylum granted to Mauricio Funes by the Government of Nicaragua included his partner, Ada Mitchell Guzmán Sigüenza, as well as his three sons.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-37288547|title=El expresidente de El Salvador Mauricio Funes recibe asilo político en Nicaragua|date=6 September 2016|work=BBC Mundo|access-date=27 July 2017}} In July 2019, Funes (along with his wife and two sons) became a naturalized citizen of Nicaragua, where he and his immediate family remained in exile beginning in 2016.{{Cite web|title=Fugitive Salvadoran Former President Given Nicaragua Citizenship|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/americas_fugitive-salvadoran-former-president-given-nicaragua-citizenship/6172925.html|access-date=27 December 2019|website=Voice of America|date=30 July 2019 }}

=Death=

Funes died following a "serious chronic illness" at a hospital in Managua, Nicaragua, on 21 January 2025, at the age of 65.{{cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/ex-salvadoran-leader-mauricio-funes-dies-in-nicaragua-ec6ec769|title=Ex-Salvadoran Leader Mauricio Funes Dies In Nicaragua|language=en|date=22 January 2025|access-date=22 January 2025|work=Barron's}} He experienced a heart attack on 8 January and was subsequently hospitalized.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/world/americas/mauricio-funes-dead.html|title=Mauricio Funes, Salvadoran President Who Fled to Nicaragua, Dies at 65|publisher=The New York Times|date=January 28, 2025|accessdate=January 28, 2025}} His family decided that he would be buried in Nicaragua.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016031407/http://mauriciofunes.org/ MauricioFunes.org – Official Mauricio Funes Website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090318033802/http://www.mauriciofunespresidente.com/ Official Campaign Website] {{In lang|es}}
[https://www.cidob.org/lider-politico/mauricio-funes-cartagena Biography by CIDOB] {{In lang|es}}
[http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_55952.shtml First President from the Left Elected in San Salvador] by Katie Kohlstedt, 6 June 2009
[http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090629/hayden/single El Salvador Rising] by Tom Hayden, The Nation, 15 June 2009
[http://www.workers.org/2009/world/el_salvador_0709/ "El Salvador’s 'Date with History{{'"}}] by Oscar Faria, Workers World, 2 July 2009