SANTA TECLA, El Salvador — The country’s new Anti-Corruption Law, hailed as one of the country’s most comprehensive measures to date against corruption, took effect on Monday, imposing strict reporting and oversight requirements on public officials and employees.
The law, approved by the Legislative Assembly in February, creates the Integrated National Anti-Corruption System (SINAC), led by the Attorney General’s Office, to prevent, detect, investigate, and punish acts of corruption in public service.
Its reach extends to all government officials, public employees, law enforcement agents, municipal authorities, state institutions, and both individuals and legal entities linked to public administration.
Under the new framework, a National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA) will operate within the Attorney General’s Office to conduct intelligence operations aimed at preventing and prosecuting corruption.
SINAC is tasked with developing real-time information-sharing protocols and monitoring compliance with its recommendations across all relevant institutions.
The legislation requires all covered officials to submit a sworn Assets and Liabilities Report to the Ministry of Finance, along with their annual income tax return.
The Report, which must include the financial information of spouses, will detail the balances of assets and liabilities, as well as any acquisitions or transfers of property that occurred during the reporting period.
The Ministry must publish these reports on a public online portal within 15 business days of receipt of the submission.
The Court of Accounts will have unrestricted access to these declarations to investigate possible conflicts of interest, illicit enrichment, or other indicators of corruption.
President Nayib Bukele signed the decree on February 11, following its approval on February 7, and it was published in the Official Newspaper the next day. Article 22, which outlines the effective date, sets the law to come into force 180 days after publication — a period completed on August 11.
Gubernatorial corruption scandals have long plagued El Salvador’s political landscape, with former presidents from both ARENA and FMLN parties facing charges ranging from embezzlement to illicit enrichment, undermining public trust in democratic institutions.
High-profile cases include those of former President Francisco Flores (ARENA), accused of diverting earthquake relief funds, and Mauricio Funes (FMLN), who was convicted of embezzling hundreds of millions, highlighting the deep-rooted misuse of public resources.
