Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara facts for kids

Claudia Juana Rodríguez de Guevara (born in 1980 or 1981) is an accountant from El Salvador. She served as the acting President of El Salvador from December 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024. She took on this important role when President Nayib Bukele was granted a leave of absence. This allowed him to focus on his campaign for re-election. Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara was the first woman to hold presidential powers in El Salvador.

Before becoming acting president, Rodríguez worked as a finance manager for Nayib Bukele. She held this role both before and during his time as president, from 2019 to 2023. In 2021, she became the Director of Municipal Works. In 2022, she was named Bukele's private secretary. On November 30, 2023, the Legislative Assembly chose her to be the designated president. She officially started her duties the next day.

Early Life and Education

Claudia Rodríguez was born in El Salvador in either 1980 or 1981.

She attended the Reverend José Saberlio Ponce Christian College. She also studied at the General Francisco Morazán National Institute. Later, she went to Francisco Gavidia University for five semesters. She also completed a course at the Corporation of Accountants of El Salvador.

Before working in government, Rodríguez held several finance and accounting positions. She worked as a finance manager for a company owned by the Bukele family. She also founded a company in 2011.

Accounting and Public Service Career

From 2012 to 2015, Claudia Rodríguez worked as a finance manager. This was for the municipality of Nuevo Cuscatlán. At that time, Nayib Bukele was the mayor there.

She then served as the municipal treasurer of San Salvador. This was while Bukele was the mayor from 2015 to 2018. In August 2018, she became the finance manager for Nuevas Ideas. This is the political party started by Bukele. She is a member of this party.

Rodríguez continued her work as a finance manager when Bukele became president in June 2019. In November 2022, she became the director of the Emergency Committee. In this role, she helped manage funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

On November 25, 2021, President Bukele appointed her. She became the president of the board of directors for the new Directorate of Municipal Works. On March 17, 2022, Bukele named Rodríguez as his private secretary. She took over from Ernesto Castro. On April 21, 2023, Bukele also named her as a representative for the Road Conservation Fund.

Becoming Acting President

On November 30, 2023, the Legislative Assembly chose Claudia Rodríguez. She was selected as the designated president. This happened after President Bukele was granted a leave of absence. He needed this time to focus on his re-election campaign.

Although she took on presidential powers, she did not become the official president. Her title was "Presidential Designate of the Republic in Charge of the Office." The Assembly confirmed her with 67 votes in favor. She officially began her presidential duties on December 1, 2023. She maintained these powers until June 1, 2024. Many news outlets described her as the country's first female president, even though it was in an acting role.

There was some discussion about whether she was officially sworn in. The President of the Legislative Assembly, Ernesto Castro, said she was sworn in privately. However, another deputy, Guillermo Gallegos, said a swearing-in was not needed.

Her appointment was discussed by various lawyers and politicians. Some people questioned the process. They wondered if she would truly be governing the country. Some believed President Bukele would continue to lead through her.

During her time as acting president, Rodríguez made some appointments. On December 17, 2023, she accepted the resignation of Moisés Cabrera. He was the president of the Development Bank of El Salvador. On December 22, she appointed Nelson Rivas as his replacement. On May 6, 2024, she appointed Mauricio Calderón Sansivirini. He became the president of the Salvadoran Institute of Coffee.

Personal Life

Claudia Rodríguez has a brother named Douglas Rodríguez Fuentes. He is currently the president of the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador. He has held this position since September 19, 2020.

See also

In Spanish: Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara para niños

• List of elected and appointed female heads of state and government