Mauricio Funes, the former president of El Salvador, passed away on January 21, 2025, in Managua, Nicaragua, at the age of 65, as he battled multiple corruption allegations during his time in office.
Former Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes Passes Away at 65
Former Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes Passes Away at 65
Mauricio Funes, known for his journalism and presidency, died in exile, burdened by legal controversies.
Mauricio Funes, a one-time television journalist and the first modern-day leftist president of El Salvador, died on January 21, 2025, in Managua, Nicaragua. His death, reported by the Nicaraguan health ministry, stemmed from a "grave chronic illness" after suffering a heart attack earlier in January. Funes' presidency began with high hopes in 2009, aimed at combating crime and poverty in a nation recovering from civil war. However, after leaving office in 2014, he became embroiled in numerous scandals, including the embezzlement of state funds, prompting him to flee to Nicaragua in 2016.
In absentia, he was convicted in May 2023 for collaborating with gangs to reduce violence, receiving a 14-year prison sentence. Additionally, he faced charges for tax evasion and corruption involving a construction contract linked to a private jet deal. By the time of his death, he was the subject of five ongoing investigations, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a figure once viewed as a beacon of hope for a country grappling with its complex past.
In absentia, he was convicted in May 2023 for collaborating with gangs to reduce violence, receiving a 14-year prison sentence. Additionally, he faced charges for tax evasion and corruption involving a construction contract linked to a private jet deal. By the time of his death, he was the subject of five ongoing investigations, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a figure once viewed as a beacon of hope for a country grappling with its complex past.
