
In June 2023, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced an ambitious war against corruption, vowing to hold accountable those who have exploited public funds and betrayed the trust of the nation’s citizens. One year into this bold initiative, Bukele’s administration has made significant strides in exposing and prosecuting high-profile figures involved in white-collar crime.
This article provides some examples of the successes, challenges, and ongoing efforts of the past year as Bukele’s government seeks to rid the country of endemic corruption and restore integrity to its public institutions.
One of the first notable figures targeted in Bukele’s anti-corruption campaign was former President Alfredo Félix Cristiani Burkard.
Authorities seized over 150 properties and vehicles from Cristiani Burkard, alleging that he had acquired these assets using public funds during his presidency from 1989 to 1994. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Cristiani Burkard embezzled more than $4.2 million from state funds to capitalize a private pharmaceutical company.
Furthermore, it was revealed that he created offshore companies to siphon money out of El Salvador, ultimately amassing over $9 million. As legal proceedings intensified, Cristiani Burkard fled the country and is now considered a fugitive, reportedly residing in Italy.
The campaign didn’t stop at former presidents. Juan Pablo Durán, the ex-president of Bandesal, and Cristian Flores, the Presidential Commissioner for Strategic Projects, were also apprehended as part of this sweeping crackdown.
Flores was detained on April 25, 2024, accused of “cohecho impropio” (improper bribery) for demanding money from individuals and businesses in exchange for preferential treatment in government projects. Using his position of authority, Flores exploited business relationships to enrich himself, betraying public trust in the process.
Juan Pablo Durán faced charges of “actos arbitrarios” (arbitrary actions) and “improper bribery” while leading Bandesal. He was captured at the Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport on September 30, 2023, highlighting the administration’s commitment to holding officials accountable regardless of their status or connections.
These arrests mark a significant step in Bukele’s promise to confront corruption “wherever it comes from,” underscoring his message that no one is above the law.
President Bukele has made it clear to his cabinet members that any involvement in illegal activities will result in severe consequences, including imprisonment.
“I will not be the president who didn’t steal but surrounded himself with thieves. I hope to be remembered as the president who didn’t steal and didn’t let anyone else steal. And those who did steal, he put them in jail.“
Bukele said this to his officials on the night he asked the Attorney General, in a broadcast on national television, to investigate them all.
To reinforce this stance, Bukele introduced plans for the construction of the Center for Confinement of Corruption (CECOC), a specialized facility intended for those convicted of corruption-related offenses. This initiative symbolizes his administration’s resolve to remove corrupt elements from government, albeit gradually and with sustained effort.
Bukele has emphasized that this crusade against corruption won’t be resolved overnight. He advocates for patience and trust from the Salvadoran public, reassuring them that progress, though incremental, will continue to be made.
“This fight will not end in a month, nor in a year, but it will be achieved, step by step. The population is asked for patience and trust.“
Nayib Bukele
The administration’s actions over the past year have laid a foundation for future endeavors, illustrating both the potential and difficulty inherent in purging governments of entrenched corruption.
As vindication and institutional reform march forward hand in hand, the people of El Salvador await the enduring impacts of Bukele’s ambitious campaign.