Nayib Bukele's 2019 Presidential Inaguration.
El Salvador, a country with a diverse political history, has been shaped by a wide range of presidents—for better or worse. From controversial figures to modern leaders, each has left a distinct mark on the country’s direction, influencing everything from policy to public perception.
Presidents of El Salvador are elected for five-year terms by popular vote. A candidate must secure over 50% of the votes to win in the first round.
If no one meets the 50% threshold, the election heads to a second round. The top two candidates face off in a runoff to determine who will lead the country for the next five years.
Presidents of El Salvador from 1984 to 2024.
| Name | Term | Political Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Nayib Bukele | 2024 to 2029 | New Ideas |
| Nayib Bukele | 2019 to 2024 | GANA |
| Salvador Sanchez Ceren | 2014 to 2019 | FMLN |
| Mauricio Funes | 2009 to 2014 | FMLN |
| Antonio Saca | 2004 to 2009 | ARENA |
| Francisco Flores | 1999 to 2004 | ARENA |
| Armando Calderon Sol | 1994 to 1999 | ARENA |
| Alfredo Cristiani | 1989 to 1994 | ARENA |
Nayib Bukele Second Term
Nayib Bukele’s second presidential term started on June 1, 2024, and will end on the last day of May 2029. Bukele’s second presidential term has sparked debates over its constitutionality, with critics contending his second term is unconstitutional.
Bukele secured a second term in a landslide victory in the February 4, 2024, presidential election, reinforcing his mandate despite the constitutional concerns raised by some.
Nayib Bukele received 2,701,725 votes, accounting for 84.6% of the total, with a victory margin of 78.2%.
Second place went to Manuel Flores of the FMLN political party, who received 204,167 votes or 6.4% of the total votes.
SEE ALSO: Nayib Bukele: The Salvadoran President Reshaping the Nation’s Future
Although Bukele has an approval rating of over 75% and is one of the most popular leaders in Latin America—if not the most popular, he faces condemnations.
President Nayib Bukele has faced growing accusations of authoritarianism by consolidating power, removing opposing judges, and extending the state of exception that limits constitutional protections and civil liberties.
Critics also argue that Bukele is undermining democratic institutions by appointing loyalists, bypassing legislative oversight, and using security forces to silence dissent—moves seen as threatening democratic checks and balances.
Additionally, independent journalists and media outlets report incidents of harassment, digital surveillance, and smear campaigns occurring under Bukele’s rule, raising concerns that press freedom is being threatened.
Lastly, the Bukele administration has also been accused of violating due process rights by detaining individuals without proper legal procedures. Thousands have been arrested under the state of emergency, with reports of arbitrary detentions and lack of access to legal representation.
Despite all the condemnations, Salvadorans continue to approve of the Job Bukele is doing as president, largely due to his aggressive crackdown on gang violence.
The Bukele administration’s policies have led to a significant reduction in crime, transforming El Salvador from one of the world’s most dangerous countries to one of the safest in Latin America.
This improvement in public safety has resonated with Salvadorans, who prioritize security and stability, even as concerns about civil liberties and democratic norms persist.
Nayib Bukele First Term
Nayib Bukele’s first presidential term ran from June 1, 2019, to May 31, 2024. His election marked a historic shift, ending over three decades of two-party dominance by the FMLN and ARENA.
Running under the GANA party, Bukele won the presidency with 53.1% of the popular vote.
One of Bukele’s most notable achievements during his first term was the dramatic improvement in public security.
Under his administration, El Salvador has witnessed an unprecedented decrease in homicides, transitioning from being one of the most violent countries in Latin America to now being among the safest.
Additionally, President Bukele is commended for his effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes initiatives such as distributing food, implementing a vaccination rollout, and successfully managing fatality rates.
Bukele is further credited with transforming El Salvador’s international image. Once known for crime and instability, the country now gains global recognition for its improved safety and rise in tourism.
Despite his popularity—considered the most well-liked president in Salvadoran history—Bukele has faced criticism for authoritarian behavior, including attacks on the press and non-governmental organizations.
Additionally, reports have accused his administration of negotiating with gangs to lower homicide rates and secure electoral support. At the same time, human rights organizations have condemned alleged abuses during the State of Exception.
Salvador Sanchez Ceren
Salvador Sánchez Cerén served as president of El Salvador from 2014 to 2019, becoming the second leader from the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) to hold the office. Before his presidency, he served as vice president from 2009 to 2014.
During the 1980s civil war, Sánchez Cerén operated as a guerrilla commander under the alias Commander Leonel González.
He served two terms as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2006. In 2006, following the death of Communist Party leader and FMLN commander Schafik Hándal, Sánchez Cerén took over leadership of the party’s legislative bloc.
The former president currently resides in Nicaragua, where he is evading Salvadoran justice. Authorities accuse him of illicit enrichment, money laundering, and other crimes.
Under Sánchez Cerén’s administration, El Salvador recorded its highest homicide rates since 2000, earning global infamy as the murder capital of the world.
Mauricio Funes Cartagena
Mauricio Funes Cartagena served as the president of the Republic of El Salvador from 2009 to 2014. Funes Cartagena was the first elected president of the left-wing political party Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front or FMLN.
Ex-president Funes Cartagena became a Nicaraguan citizen in 2019 after residing in Nicaragua under political Asylum protection for over a year. Ex-president Funes died in January 2025.
The Funes Presidency gained notoriety for the corruption charges against him and some of his cabinet members. Additionally, his administration became infamous for the controversial truce established with the gangs Barrio 18 and MS-13.
Former president Funes lived in exile, avoiding the Salvadoran justice system until his death in January 2025.
However, in 2023, a Salvadoran court sentenced the former president to 14 years in prison for crimes committed during his administration between 2009 and 2014.
Ex-President Funes was found guilty of negotiating with gangs a truce that resulted in the empowerment of these criminal organizations. The former president was tried in absentia.
Elias Antonio Saca
Elias Antonio “Tony” Saca served as president of El Salvador from 2004 to 2009, representing the right-wing ARENA party. His 2004 election victory over FMLN candidate Schafik Hándal secured ARENA’s fourth consecutive presidential term.
In 2009, ARENA expelled Saca from the party, prompting him to align with the newly formed Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA).
Authorities arrested Saca in 2016 and charged him with embezzling over $300 million in public funds.
He later pleaded guilty to embezzlement and money laundering, becoming the first democratic-era Salvadoran president convicted of corruption.
A court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for the diversion and laundering of state funds—marking one of the country’s most high-profile corruption cases.
Francisco Flores
Francisco Guillermo Flores Pérez, known as Paco Flores, served as president of El Salvador from 1999 to 2004 under the right-wing ARENA party.
Flores is best known for initiating El Salvador’s dollarization, a policy that caused widespread confusion and hardship, especially among low-income communities unprepared for the abrupt currency change.
He became the first former Salvadoran president indicted on corruption charges. Prosecutors accused him of embezzling and illegally enriching himself with more than $15 million in aid from Taiwan, originally intended for victims of the 2001 earthquakes.
Investigations revealed that Flores redirected the Taiwanese funds to benefit the ARENA party rather than support earthquake recovery efforts. After months in hiding, he surrendered in September 2014 and was placed under house arrest while awaiting trial.
In January 2016, while still under house arrest, Flores suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died on January 30.
In 2020, Norman Quijano, a former deputy for the ARENA party, claimed that the Government of Taiwan provided financial support to the El Salvador government in exchange for a vote in the United Nations.
Quijano claimed that the money from Taiwan, which resulted in accusations against Paco Flores, was meant for the growth of political parties in the government rather than aiding the earthquake victims. ARENA was the political party in the government at that time.
SEE ALSO: Living in El Salvador: Top Reasons for Moving to El Salvador
Armando Calderon Sol
Armando Calderon Sol served from 1994 to 1999. Calderon Sol was the first president elected after the end of the Salvadoran civil war; he was a member of the right-wing political party ARENA.
During his presidency, Armando Calderon Sol pursued economic reforms, including the privatization of state-owned companies in El Salvador.
These measures aimed to stimulate economic growth and attract foreign investment, but opinions on privatization were divided, sparking debates about its impact on the country’s economy and workforce.
Alfredo Cristiani
Alfredo Cristiani Burkard served as president of El Salvador from 1989 to 1994. Cristiani was the first president of the right-wing political party ARENA. He entered politics in the early 1980s, shortly after founding the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
Cristiani took over the leadership of ARENA in 1988. That same year, the party won 31 of 60 seats in the Legislative Assembly, marking the start of ARENA’s political dominance—a hold on power that lasted until 2009.
In the 1989 presidential election, Cristiani secured 53.8% of the vote, launching two decades of ARENA control over the executive branch.
As president, Cristiani played a key role in ending El Salvador’s civil war. In 1992, his government signed a historic peace accord with the FMLN guerrilla movement, formally concluding the 12-year conflict.
In 2008, human rights organizations filed a lawsuit in a Spanish court, accusing Cristiani and 14 Salvadoran military officials of involvement in the 1989 massacre of Jesuit priests at UCA University.
In April 2025, the Second Court of Instruction of San Salvador upheld the decision to proceed with the trial against former President Alfredo Félix Cristiani Burkard and ten other individuals.
They are charged with the murder of the Jesuit priests and two of their collaborators, a crime that occurred on November 16, 1989, during the Salvadoran armed conflict (1980-1992).
Presidents of El Salvador
the Presidents of El Salvador have left complex legacies—shaping the nation through war, peace, reform, and controversy. Understanding their impact offers insight into the country’s evolving democracy and political identity.
From civil war commanders to modern populists, El Salvador’s leaders reflect the country’s turbulent history. Their policies and scandals continue to influence the political climate and public trust today.
