El Salvador's FGR, Luis Martinez, filed charges against former President Francisco Flores on Wednesday alleging embezzlement and other corruption charges (illicit enrichment and civil disobedience) related to the "misappropriation of at least $5.3 million in loans from Taiwan during his tenure." Flores has been summoned to a court hearing on Friday but given that he hasn't been seen in quite some time, I'm not sure if he is really expected to attend (New York Times, FMLN USA ). These charges sound like just the tip of the iceberg as the embezzlement of cash could go into the millions.
When asked what was likely to happen should the FMLN or ARENA win the March elections, I ventured to guess not much different. There was a lot of political talk during the campaign (security) and there were many structural constraints that were likely to confront the next government regardless of whether it was Sanchez Ceren or Quijano. Maybe I was a little more status quo than I should have been. However, one area where I thought that the election would really have an impact was on whether corruption investigations against ARENA and former ARENA officials would continue - LaGeo, Monsenor Romero Boulevard, and Flores. I just didn't see the new administration moving forward with the same intensity as an FMLN administration. Not that Martinez is FMLN anyway.
For all the problems in El Salvador's justice system, today is a historic day as former head of state Francisco Flores is indicted on corruption charges and is now a wanted man.
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