Norman Quijano
Norman Quijano, a high-ranking politician from the ARENA political party, was deported from the United States to El Salvador yesterday. Salvadoran authorities detained him and informed him of his conviction.
Former San Salvador Mayor Norman Quijano was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison after a Salvadoran court found he negotiated with gangs for votes during the 2014 presidential election.
Quijano, a former presidential candidate for the ARENA political party, as well as a former president of the Legislative Assembly and mayor of the capital, has been convicted in one of the country’s highest-profile cases linked to gang-election negotiations.
Judges of the Second Criminal Chamber of San Salvador concluded that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence showing Quijano sought electoral support from criminal gangs in exchange for political and security-related concessions during his campaign.
The court convicted Quijano of illicit association and electoral fraud, determining that his actions violated electoral integrity and facilitated collaboration with organized criminal groups operating throughout the country.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators documented meetings between Quijano and leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha, known as MS-13, and the Barrio 18 gang before the election’s second round.
Prosecutors stated that Quijano’s meetings aimed to secure gang cooperation to allow residents in gang-controlled neighborhoods to vote for the right-wing political party.
Quijano offered commitments related to social reintegration programs and reductions in police pressure, noted Salvadoran prosecutors.
Authorities presented documentary records, witness testimony, and audio evidence that, prosecutors argued, demonstrated direct coordination between Quijano’s campaign representatives and senior gang figures during the electoral period.
Quijano has denied the accusations, and his legal team rejected the ruling, arguing prosecutors failed to prove he personally authorized or participated in negotiations with criminal organizations.
Defense attorney Lisandro Quintanilla said the protected witness’s testimony lacked credibility and failed to establish Quijano’s involvement. At the same time, audio and video recordings were unable to show requests for votes or promises of benefits.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Quijano barred from holding public office, including his position as a deputy to the Central American Parliament, known by its Spanish acronym, PARLACEN.
After the conviction, Quijano’s lawyers filed an appeal on June 24, 2025, asking the Supreme Court’s Criminal Chamber to vacate the sentence, arguing that authorities violated his right to due process.
The appeal disputes the strength of the evidence and argues that officials removed Quijano from office without following proper legal procedures. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled.
