Salvador Sánchez Cerén facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Salvador Sánchez Cerén
Sánchez Cerén in 2017
80th President of El Salvador
In office 1 June 2014 – 1 June 2019
Vice President	Óscar Ortiz
Preceded by	Mauricio Funes
Succeeded by	Nayib Bukele
48th Vice President of El Salvador
In office 1 June 2009 – 1 June 2014
President	Mauricio Funes
Preceded by	Ana Vilma de Escobar
Succeeded by	Óscar Ortiz
Minister of Education of El Salvador
In office 1 June 2009 – 3 July 2012
President	Mauricio Funes
Preceded by	Darlyn Meza
Succeeded by	Hato Hasbún
Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador from San Salvador
In office 1 May 2000 – 1 May 2009
7th President pro tempore of CELAC
In office 26 January 2017 – 14 January 2019
Preceded by	Danilo Medina
Succeeded by	Evo Morales
Personal details
Born	(1944-06-18) 18 June 1944 (age 81) Quezaltepeque, El Salvador
Citizenship	El Salvador Nicaragua (since 2021)
Political party	Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
Spouse	Margarita Villalta de Sánchez ​ (m. 1968)​
Children	4
Alma mater	Escuela Alberto Masferrer
Occupation	Politician, soldier, teacher
Cabinet	Cabinet of Salvador Sánchez Cerén
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
Branch/service	Farabundo Martí Popular Liberation Forces
Years of service	1972–1992
Rank	Commander
Battles/wars	Salvadoran Civil War

Salvador Sánchez Cerén (born 18 June 1944) is a former politician and teacher from El Salvador. He was also a leader in a group called the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). He served as the 80th president of El Salvador from 2014 to 2019. Before that, he was the 49th vice president from 2009 to 2014. He is the first former rebel leader to become president of El Salvador.

Early Life and Education

Salvador Sánchez Cerén was born in Quezaltepeque, El Salvador, on 18 June 1944. His father, Antoino Alfonso Sánchez, was a carpenter. His mother, Dolores Hernández, sold food. Salvador was one of twelve children in his family.

When he was young, he went to the José Dolores Larreynaga Schooling Center. At age 16, he began studying to become a public school teacher at the Alberto Masferrer Superior Normal School. He finished his studies in 1963. After graduating, Sánchez Cerén taught at three different schools in the La Libertad Department from 1963 to 1979. In 1965, he joined the National Association of Salvadoran Educators (ANDES 21 de Junio), which was the first teachers' union in El Salvador.

Role in the Civil War

In 1972, Sánchez Cerén joined a group called the Farabundo Martí Popular Liberation Forces (FPL). This was a militant organization. When the Salvadoran Civil War began in 1979, Sánchez Cerén took on the name "Commander Leonel González." He was given the rank of "comandante," or commander.

In 1983, Sánchez Cerén became the leader of the Farabundo Martí Popular Liberation Forces. He also became one of the main leaders of the FMLN General Command. The FMLN was a group of rebel forces during the civil war.

Political Career

In the year 2000, Sánchez Cerén was elected as a representative for the FMLN in the Legislative Assembly. He represented the San Salvador Department. He was re-elected two more times, in 2003 and 2006.

From 2001 to 2004, he was the general coordinator for his political party. During this time, he also led a group within the FMLN called the Socialist Revolutionary Current (CRS). This group was known for its traditional and strong views.

Becoming Vice President

In 2007, a journalist named Mauricio Funes wanted to become president. He chose Sánchez Cerén to be his running mate for vice president in the 2009 presidential election. This choice helped Funes get support from the FMLN party leaders.

During the election campaign, some people from the opposing party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), criticized Sánchez Cerén. They said he was responsible for destruction during the civil war.

Leading El Salvador as President

President-elect Sánchez Cerén with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in May 2014

In 2012, Sánchez Cerén announced he would run for president of El Salvador in the 2014 presidential election. The FMLN chose him as their candidate. He picked Óscar Ortiz as his vice presidential candidate.

In the first round of the election, Sánchez Cerén received the most votes, but not enough to win outright. So, he competed against Norman Quijano in a second round. Sánchez Cerén won with 50.11 percent of the votes. The Supreme Electoral Court confirmed his victory on 13 March 2014.

Sánchez Cerén became the first former rebel commander to become president of El Salvador. He was sworn in as president on 1 June 2014.

During his time as president, his government made some important decisions:

• In April 2017, El Salvador became the first country in the world to stop metal mining. This decision was made to protect the environment and public health.
• In August 2018, his government decided to start diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This meant El Salvador ended its relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).

After the Presidency

In December 2020, Sánchez Cerén and his family moved from El Salvador to Nicaragua. In July 2021, the Nicaraguan government granted him, his wife, and three of his children Nicaraguan citizenship.

Personal Life

Sánchez Cerén with his wife in 2015

Sánchez Cerén married Margarita Villalta de Sánchez in 1968. They have four children: Antonio, Claudia, Fátima, and Ivett.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Salvador Sánchez Cerén para niños

• List of heads of state and government who have been in exile