Mauricio Funes, the former president of El Salvador, died Tuesday at the age of 65 in Nicaragua, where he had lived since 2016 to evade criminal sentences for corruption and making deals with street gangs. Nicaragua's Health Ministry stated he succumbed to a severe chronic illness. Funes, who led El Salvador from 2009 to 2014, was considered a "tenacious" leader by some, yet faced repeated corruption allegations and was sentenced in absentia to over 26 years in prison.
Funes entered politics under the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, following a successful career as a journalist and CNN correspondent. His administration, once seen as a fresh approach for the party, ultimately ended with a legacy stained by corruption charges. In May 2023, he received a 14-year sentence for gang-related negotiations during his tenure, and was later sentenced for receiving kickbacks in a bridge construction project.
Despite the controversies, Funes denied wrongdoing, attributing the accusations to political persecution. His tumultuous relationship with current President Nayib Bukele was marked by frequent online disputes, as Bukele initiated legal actions against him over alleged dealings with gangs. Funes' presidency was followed by another FMLN leader, Salvador Sánchez Cerén, yet the party's influence has waned, leaving them without congressional seats after last year's elections. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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