Mauricio Funes Biography

Childhood & Early Life

Mauricio Funes was born on October 18, 1959, in El Salvador. He received his education at a Jesuit grade school and later studied communications at the Jesuit Universidad Centroamericana de José Simeón Cañas (UCA). His Jesuit Catholic upbringing and leftist professors during his education played a significant role in shaping his political philosophies.

Tragedy and Education

In August of 1980, Funes’ older brother was killed by police during a student protest that turned violent. This tragedy led him to leave his studies at university before completing his degree.

Career

After leaving his university education, Funes did not immediately choose a political party or become involved in his country’s ongoing civil war, despite his leftist leanings. Instead, he began teaching literature classes for Catholic schools, with a focus on the audio-visual aspects of communication.

In 1986, Funes started his television journalism career as a reporter on the state education channel. He later moved to Channel 12, an independently owned network known for its news coverage. During his time as a reporter, he interviewed many important Salvadoran political figures and became known for his support of leftist and working-class interests.

In 1991, Funes collaborated with his sociology professor from his university days, a leftist activist named Francis Miguel Hasbún, to establish an audiovisual center and radio station at the UCA. He continued to report for Channel 12 and became a prominent Spanish language correspondent for the Cable News Network (CNN), further increasing his popularity as a leftist celebrity.

Although Funes’ leftist coverage of Salvadoran politics made him popular with the people, he faced opposition from the right-wing National Republican Alliance (ARENA), which held power at the time. He was heavily censored and even received death threats.

In 2005, Funes was fired from his position at Channel 12, along with several other journalists. However, he continued to make television appearances on other channels, expanding his popularity.

In 2007, Funes utilized his popularity as a leftist activist and reporter to become the presidential candidate for the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a political party that originated as a rebel group of Marxist guerrillas. He became their first non-guerrilla candidate in over 25 years.

During his electoral campaign, Funes campaigned against the incumbent ARENA party and promised social justice for the working class. His platform focused on economic reform, universal healthcare, improved access to housing and education, and policies to reduce gang violence and crime.

Funes was elected on March 15, 2009, with 51.3 percent of the vote. His inauguration marked the third time in El Salvador’s history that power had peacefully shifted from one governing party to its opposition.

Despite claiming during his campaign that he was neither Marxist nor socialist, one of his first acts in office was to allocate $600 million for a plan aimed at assisting poor Salvadorans through massive social reform policies. He also reestablished relations with Cuba after 50 years of silence.

Presidency and Legacy

During his presidency, Funes focused on acknowledging and making amends for the human rights violations committed during the Salvadoran Civil War, which claimed the life of his own brother. He also worked to reduce the homicide rate, implement healthcare reform, and maintain good business relations with other countries, particularly the United States.

However, in 2012, his political party lost its majority in the 84-seat legislature, limiting his ability to enact and enforce his policies. The crime rate and poverty in El Salvador continued to drive its citizens to flee the country, and Funes ended his five-year term amid accusations of corruption and a constitutional case against him.

Major Works

In his first year of presidency, Funes faced the challenges posed by the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida in 2009, as well as earthquakes and volcanoes in the region. His administration focused on rehabilitating public schools and providing temporary shelter for refugees while communities were rebuilt or relocated.

Awards & Achievements

In 1994, Funes was awarded the Maria Moors Cabot prize by Columbia University for his efforts to promote and empower the press.

Personal Life & Legacy

Funes is married to Wanda Pignato, who was once involved with the Worker’s Party in Brazil. Tragically, his oldest son Alejandro Funes Velasco was killed in Paris while studying photography at the age of 27.

Trivia

Funes attributes his years as a reporter as instrumental in developing his left-leaning philosophies. During that time, he interviewed many political leaders, including those from the party he would later join.