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President of the Republic of El Salvador
Seal of the President of El Salvador.svg
Presidential seal
Incumbent
Nayib Bukele

since 1 June 2019
Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara
Acting
since 1 December 2023
Executive branch of the Government of El Salvador
Residence Casa Presidencial
Term length 5 years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument Constitution of El Salvador
Formation 22 February 1841
First holder Juan José Guzmán
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Vice President of El Salvador
Salary US$5,181 per month (2017)


The president of El Salvador (Spanish: presidente de El Salvador), officially titled President of the Republic of El Salvador (Spanish: Presidente de la República de El Salvador), is the head of state and head of government of El Salvador. He is also, by constitutional law, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of El Salvador. The office was created in the Constitution of 1841. From 1821 until 1841, the head of state of El Salvador was styled simply as Head of State (Jefe de Estado).

The President of the Republic of El Salvador begins their duties on 1 June of the year of their election and is accompanied by a vice president.

According to the Electoral Code, for a person to be declared President-Elect of the Republic, they must obtain 50% plus one of the votes obtained in the election in the presidential elections. If none of the candidates gets to obtain that result, a second voting round will be held where the two candidates who have obtained the most electoral votes in the first round will participate.

The duration of the presidential term is five years and the president is eligible for reelection once consecutively as of 2021.

Each 1 June, the president is accountable to the Legislative Assembly for the contributions and Government Development that the president, the vice president and the Council of Ministers developed from the beginning of the presidential term.

History

In 1824, the Mayor's Office of Sonsonate and the Intendancy of San Salvador joined to form the State of El Salvador, united first to the United Provinces of Central America and then to the Federal Republic of Central America. According to the federal law, the governor received the title of Supreme Chief until 1841, when El Salvador declared itself independent, with its governor being called President. From then on, four stages with particular characteristics are recognized: the post-federal period, the Coffee Republic, the military governments, and civil governments.

In 1841, El Salvador was constituted as an independent and sovereign nation after the rupture of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1838. At that time, the legislative body created a constitution to legitimize the nation of El Salvador and also named Juan Lindo Provisional President of the Republic of El Salvador on 2 February 1841. It was not until 26 September 1842 Juan José Guzmán was elected by the people as President of El Salvador. From that moment, the republic suffered a constant series of provisional governments that brought many leaders to power.

In 1858, Captain General Gerardo Barrios became President of the Republic in which his government gave entrance to the "French Bread". He resigned from power in 1863 and Francisco Dueñas became President.

It was not until the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador of 1886 was ratified when the presidential term is increased from two to four years, beginning and ending the presidential terms on 1 March. In 1913, before the death of Manuel Enrique Araujo, a family 'dynasty' would begin. The Meléndez-Quiñonez Dynasty lasted 18 years until Arturo Araujo became President.

In 1931, a coup d'état led by Vice President General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez overthrew President Araujo. This dictatorial government would establish the foundations of a rigid and totally militarized nation. It was not until 1939 when General Martínez called for a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution which established that the presidential term would be increased from 4 to 6 years and would begin and end on 1 January. During his presidency, Martínez initiated La Matanza which killed 25,000 indigenous peoples. Martínez would be overthrown 12 years later in 1944 and General Andrés Ignacio Menéndez became Provisional President.

From that moment, the presidency of the Republic once again showed dictatorial instability and military governments began to be established to the point of creating a republic with 'Military Authoritarianism' which would end in 1982. In 1950, Lieutenant Colonel Óscar Osorio constitutionally became the president of the Republic and a new constitution was drafted where the presidential term would be 6 years and begin and end on 14 September. Osorio was known as the president of the social programs since he implemented and founded programs such as the Urban Housing Institute (IVU), the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA) among others that benefited the nation.

In 1960, a coup d'état overthrew President José María Lemus which led to the formation of a Junta of Government which would later be overthrown by the Civic-Military Directory in 1961. This was the case until the constitutional order was reestablished and another constitution was created in 1962 which would bring with it significant presidential reforms. From that moment, the presidential term would last 5 years and begin and end on 1 July.

On 15 October 1979, the last coup d'état in Salvadoran history took place where a group of young soldiers and officers overthrew General Carlos Humberto Romero. The coup marked the beginning of the Salvadoran Civil War which would rage on from 1979 to 1992. The Revolutionary Government Junta was established and ruled over El Salvador while fighting against the communist guerrilla group Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). The Junta was abolished in 1982 and Álvaro Magaña became President of the Republic. The 1983 Constituent Assembly decided to create the current Constitution of El Salvador which set presidential terms to 5 years and would begin and end on June 1. The civil war greatly affected the political stability of the country.

President José Napoleón Duarte would lead the government against the FMLN from 1984 to 1989. In 1989, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) won the 1989 presidential election. Alfredo Cristiani became the first president of ARENA. ARENA won the presidential elections in 1989, 1994, 1999, and 2004. Its presidents were Alfredo Cristiani, Armando Calderón Sol, Francisco Flores, and Elías Antonio Saca.

The Civil War ended in 1992 and the FMLN became a legal political party in accordance to the Chapultepec Peace Accords.

In 20 years of government, El Salvador was characterized by the privatization of national services such as coffee, telecommunications, the pension system, the National Bank, the Electric Power Service, among others. In 2001, the Economic Dollarization System was carried out in the country, a measure adopted by then President Francisco Flores which would have great long-term consequences for the Salvadoran economy and adopted the US dollar as legal currency.

Mauricio Funes won the 2009 presidential election ending 20 years of ARENA rule and marked the first FMLN presidency. Salvador Sánchez Cerén became the second FMLN president in 2014 after narrowly defeating Norman Quijano.

In 2019, Nayib Bukele, from the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA), won the 2019 presidential election ending 10 years of FMLN rule. He was the first president since Duarte to not be a member of either ARENA or FMLN. He was the second president from Palestinian descent, after Elías Antonio Saca. He was inaugurated on 1 June 2019.

Succession

The Salvadoran Constitution establishes that a vice president succeeds as president when the elected president dies, resigns or is removed from office. The other officers in the line of succession are two presidential designates, nominated by the president and elected by the legislature, by order of election. If all of them are absent simultaneously, the legislature elects a provisional president.

Heads of state of El Salvador within the Federal Republic of Central America (1821–1841)

Intendants political leaders of the Province of San Salvador

Political parties

      Liberal
      Military
      Independent
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 PEDRO BARRIERE.jpg Doctor
Pedro Barriere
(1768–1827)
21 September 1821 28 November 1821 68 days Independent
2 José Matias Delgado.jpg Presbyter and Doctor
José Matías Delgado
(1767–1832)
28 November 1821 9 February 1823 1 year, 73 days Independent
3 Vicente Filisola.jpg Brigadier
Vicente Filísola
(1789–1850)
9 February 1823 7 May 1823 87 days Military
4 General Don Felipe Codallos (cropped).jpg General
Felipe Codallos
(1790–1849)
7 May 1823 25 May 1823 18 days Military
Coat of arms of El Salvador.svg Consultive Junta 25 May 1823 17 June 1823 23 days Consultive Junta
Mariprad.jpg Mariano Prado
(1776–1837)
Provisional Chief
17 June 1823 22 April 1824 310 days Liberal

Heads of state of El Salvador

Political parties

      Conservative
      Liberal
      Independent
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Juanrod.jpg Juan Manuel Rodríguez
(1771–1847)
22 April 1824 1 October 1824 162 days Independent
2 Mariprad.jpg Mariano Prado
(1776–1837)
1 October 1824 13 December 1824 73 days Liberal
3 Juan Vicente Villacorta Díaz.jpg Juan Vicente Villacorta Díaz
(1764–1828)
13 December 1824 1 November 1826 1 year, 323 days Liberal
4 Mariprad.jpg Mariano Prado
(1776–1837)
Acting Head of State
1 November 1826 30 January 1829 2 years, 90 days Liberal
5 Josecor.jpg José María Cornejo
(1788–1864)
1829 30 January 1829 16 February 1830 1 year, 17 days Conservative
6 Juan damina villacorta.jpg José Damián Villacorta
(1796–1860)
16 February 1830 4 December 1830 291 days Independent
7 Josecor.jpg José María Cornejo
(1788–1864)
4 December 1830 3 April 1832 1 year, 121 days Conservative
General Francisco Morazán.JPG General
Francisco Morazán
(1792–1842)
Provisional Head of State
3 April 1832 13 May 1832 40 days Liberal
8 Joaquín de San Martín.jpg Colonel
Joaquín de San Martín
(1770–1854)
13 May 1832 25 July 1832 73 days Conservative
9 Mariprad.jpg Mariano Prado
(1776–1837)
25 July 1832 1 July 1833 341 days Liberal
10 Joaquín de San Martín.jpg Colonel
Joaquín de San Martín
(1770–1854)
1833 1 July 1833 23 June 1834 357 days Conservative
Carlos Salazar Castro (San Salvador, 1800 - San José, 23 de julio de 1867) fue un militar liberal salvadoreño.jpg General
Carlos Salazar Castro
(1800–1867)
Provisional Head of State
23 June 1834 13 July 1834 20 days Independent
José Gregorio Salazar 02.jpg José Gregorio Salazar
(1773–1838)
Provisional Head of State
13 July 1834 30 September 1834 79 days Independent
Jescol.jpg Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera
(?–?)
Provisional Head of State
30 September 1834 13 October 1834 13 days Independent
11 Jsilva.jpg José María Silva
(1804–1876)
13 October 1834 2 March 1835 140 days Independent
12 Jescol.jpg Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera
(?–?)
2 March 1835 10 April 1835 39 days Independent
13 Nicolás Espinoza.jpg Licentiate and General
Nicolás Espinoza
(1795–1845)
10 April 1835 15 November 1835 219 days Liberal
14 Francisco Gómez.jpg Colonel and Licentiate
Francisco Gómez
(1796–1838)
15 November 1835 1 February 1836 78 days Independent
15 DVigil.jpg Diego Vigil Cocaña
(1799–1845)
1 February 1836 23 May 1837 1 year, 111 days Liberal
16 Tmenen.jpg Timoteo Menéndez
(?–?)
23 May 1837 7 June 1837 15 days Independent
17 DVigil.jpg Diego Vigil Cocaña
(1799–1845)
7 June 1837 6 January 1838 213 days Liberal
18 Tmenen.jpg Timoteo Menéndez
(?–?)
6 January 1838 23 May 1838 137 days Independent
Antonio-José-Cañas.jpg Colonel
Antonio José Cañas
(1785–1844)
Acting Head of State
23 May 1838 11 July 1839 1 year, 49 days Independent
19 General Francisco Morazán.JPG General
Francisco Morazán
(1792–1842)
11 July 1839 16 February 1840 220 days Liberal
Jsilva.jpg José María Silva
(1804–1876)
Acting Head of State
16 February 1840 5 April 1840 49 days Independent
Coat of arms of El Salvador.svg Municipal Council of San Salvador 5 April 1840 15 April 1840 10 days Municipal Council of San Salvador
Antonio-José-Cañas.jpg Colonel
Antonio José Cañas
(1785–1844)
Provisional Head of State
15 April 1840 20 September 1840 158 days Independent
Ecp2zSAWkAErt6b.jpg Norberto Ramírez
(1802–1856)
Provisional Head of State
20 September 1840 7 January 1841 109 days Independent
Juan Lindo.jpg Juan Lindo
(1790–1857)
Provisional Head of State
7 January 1841 22 February 1841 46 days Conservative

Presidents of El Salvador (1841–present)

Early republic (1841–1885)

Political parties

      Conservative
      Liberal
      Independent
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Juan Lindo.jpg Juan Lindo
(1790–1857)
Provisional President
22 February 1841 20 June 1841 118 days Conservative
Egg1wjsVgAAKe9M.jpg Pedro José Arce [es]
(1801–1871)
Provisional President
20 June 1841 28 June 1841 8 days Independent
Juan Lindo.jpg Juan Lindo
(1790–1857)
Provisional President
28 June 1841 1 February 1842 218 days Conservative
Escolastico Marín (cropped).jpg General
José Escolástico Marín
(?–1846)
Acting President
1 February 1842 12 April 1842 70 days Independent
1 Presidente de la República de El Salvador Lic. Juan José Guzmán.jpg General and Licentiate
Juan José Guzmán
(1800–1847)
12 April 1842 30 June 1842 149 days Conservative
Diovil1.jpg Dionisio Villacorta [es]
(?–1846)
Acting President
30 June 1842 19 July 1842 19 days Independent
Escolastico Marín (cropped).jpg General
José Escolástico Marín
(?–1846)
Acting President
19 July 1842 26 September 1842 69 days Independent
1 Presidente de la República de El Salvador Lic. Juan José Guzmán.jpg General and Licentiate
Juan José Guzmán
(1800–1847)
26 September 1842 10 December 1843 1 year, 75 days Conservative
Cayetano Molina.jpg Cayetano Molina [es]
(1803–1873)
Provisional President
10 December 1843 20 December 1843 10 days Independent
Egg1wjsVgAAKe9M.jpg Pedro José Arce [es]
(1801–1871)
Provisional President
20 December 1843 29 December 1843 9 days Independent
Cayetano Molina.jpg Cayetano Molina [es]
(1803–1873)
Provisional President
29 December 1843 1 January 1844 3 days Independent
Egg1wjsVgAAKe9M.jpg Pedro José Arce [es]
(1801–1871)
Provisional President
1 January 1844 1 February 1844 31 days Independent
Fermín Palacios.jpg General
Fermín Palacios
(?–?)
Acting President
1 February 1844 7 February 1844 6 days Independent
2 1Francisco Malespín.jpg General
Francisco Malespín
(1806–1846)
1844 7 February 1844 16 February 1845 1 year, 8 days Conservative
Fermín Palacios.jpg General
Fermín Palacios
(?–?)
Acting President
16 February 1845 25 April 1845 68 days Independent
3 Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán (cropped) 2.jpg General
Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán
(1801–1875)
25 April 1845 1 February 1846 282 days Conservative
Fermín Palacios.jpg General
Fermín Palacios
(?–?)
Acting President
1 February 1846 21 February 1846 20 days Independent
4 Eugenio Aguilar Gonzalez Batres.jpg Doctor
Eugenio Aguilar
(1804–1879)
1846 21 February 1846 12 July 1846 141 days Liberal
Fermín Palacios.jpg General
Fermín Palacios
(?–?)
Acting President
12 July 1846 21 July 1846 9 days Independent
4 Eugenio Aguilar Gonzalez Batres.jpg Doctor
Eugenio Aguilar
(1804–1879)
12 July 1846 1 February 1848 1 year, 204 days Liberal
Tomás Medina.jpg Tomás Medina
(1803–1884)
Acting President
1 February 1848 3 February 1848 2 days Independent
FelixQuiroz.jpg José Félix Quirós
(1811–1883)
Acting President
3 February 1848 7 February 1848 4 days Independent
5 Doroteo Vasconcelos.jpg Doroteo Vasconcelos
(1803–1883)
1848 7 February 1848 26 January 1850 1 year, 353 days Liberal
Ramrod1.jpg Ramón Rodríguez
(?–?)
Acting President
26 January 1850 1 February 1850 6 days Independent
5 Doroteo Vasconcelos.jpg Doroteo Vasconcelos
(1803–1883)
1850 1 February 1850 12 January 1851 345 days Liberal
Francisco Dueñas.jpg Francisco Dueñas
(1810–1884)
Provisional President
12 January 1851 1 March 1851 48 days Conservative
FelixQuiroz.jpg José Félix Quirós
(1811–1883)
Provisional President
1 March 1851 3 May 1851 63 days Independent
6 Francisco Dueñas.jpg Francisco Dueñas
(1810–1884)
3 May 1851 30 January 1852 335 days Conservative
Colonel José María de San Martín.png Colonel
José María San Martín
(1811–1857)
Provisional President
30 January 1852 1 February 1852 2 days Conservative
6 Francisco Dueñas.jpg Francisco Dueñas
(1810–1884)
1852 1 February 1852 1 February 1854 2 years, 0 days Conservative
Vicgoz.jpg Vicente Gómez
(?–?)
Acting President
1 February 1854 15 February 1854 14 days Independent
7 Colonel José María de San Martín.png Colonel
José María San Martín
(1811–1857)
1854 15 February 1854 1 February 1856 1 year, 351 days Conservative
Francisco Dueñas.jpg Francisco Dueñas
(1810–1884)
Acting President
1 February 1856 12 February 1856 11 days Conservative
8 Rafael Campo.jpg Rafael Campo
(1813–1890)
1856 12 February 1856 12 May 1856 90 days Conservative
Francisco Dueñas.jpg Francisco Dueñas
(1810–1884)
Acting President
12 May 1856 19 July 1856 158 days Conservative
8 Rafael Campo.jpg Rafael Campo
(1813–1890)
19 July 1856 1 February 1858 1 year, 197 days Conservative
Lzepeda.jpg Lorenzo Zepeda
(?–?)
Acting President
1 February 1858 7 February 1858 6 days Independent
9 87 Miguel Santin del Castillo.jpg General
Miguel Santín del Castillo
(1830–1880)
1858 7 February 1858 24 June 1858 137 days Conservative
Gerardo Barrios.jpg Captain General
Gerardo Barrios
(1813–1865)
Acting President
24 June 1858 18 September 1858 86 days Liberal
9 87 Miguel Santin del Castillo.jpg General
Miguel Santín del Castillo
(1830–1880)
1858 18 September 1858 19 January 1859 123 days Conservative
Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán (cropped) 2.jpg General
Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán
(1801–1875)
Acting President
19 January 1859 15 February 1859 27 days Conservative
Jmperalt.jpg José María Peralta
(1807–1883)
Acting President
15 February 1859 12 March 1859 25 days Independent
10 Gerardo Barrios.jpg Captain General
Gerardo Barrios
(1813–1865)
Acting President (1859–1860)
12 March 1859 1 February 1860 326 days Liberal
1859 1 February 1860 16 December 1860 319 days
Jmperalt.jpg José María Peralta
(1807–1883)
Acting President
16 December 1860 7 February 1861 53 days Independent
10 Gerardo Barrios.jpg Captain General
Gerardo Barrios
(1813–1865)
7 February 1861 26 October 1863 2 years, 261 days Liberal
11 Francisco Dueñas.jpg Francisco Dueñas
(1810–1884)
Provisional President (1863–1865)
26 October 1863 1 February 1865 1 year, 98 days Conservative
1864
1869
1 February 1865 12 April 1871 6 years, 70 days
12 Santiago gonzalez.jpg Marshal
Santiago González Portillo
(1818–1887)
Provisional President (1871–1872)
12 April 1871 1 February 1872 295 days Liberal
1872 1 February 1872 10 May 1872 4 years, 0 days
Manuel Mendez.jpg Manuel Méndez
(?–1872)
Acting President
10 May 1872 16 June 1872 37 days Independent
12 Santiago gonzalez.jpg Marshal
Santiago González Portillo
(1818–1887)
16 June 1872 1 February 1876 3 years, 230 days Liberal
13 Andres del Valle.jpg Andrés del Valle
(1833–1888)
1876 1 February 1876 1 May 1876 90 days Liberal
14 Zaldívar.jpg Doctor
Rafael Zaldívar
(1834–1903)
Provisional President (1876–1880)
1 May 1876 1 February 1880 3 years, 276 days Liberal
1876 1 February 1880 6 April 1884 4 years, 65 days
Angel Guirola.png Ángel Guirola
(1826–1910)
Provisional President
6 April 1884 21 August 1884 137 days Independent
14 Zaldívar.jpg Doctor
Rafael Zaldívar
(1834–1903)
21 August 1884 14 May 1885 266 days Liberal

First military dictatorship (1885–1911)

Political parties

      Conservative
      Liberal
      Independent
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Illus-059 (Salvador, 20th Century).jpg General
Fernando Figueroa
(1849–1919)
Provisional President
14 May 1885 18 June 1885 35 days Military/Liberal
Jose Rosales.png José Rosales Herrador
(1827–1891)
Provisional President
18 June 1885 22 June 1885 137 days Independent
15 54A Francisco Menendez.jpg General
Francisco Menéndez
(1830–1890)
Provisional President (1885–1887)
22 June 1885 1 March 1887 1 year, 252 days Military/Liberal
1887 1 March 1887 22 June 1890 3 years, 113 days
16 Carlos Ezeta 1890.jpg General
Carlos Ezeta
(1852–1903)
Provisional President (1890–1891)
22 June 1890 1 March 1891 252 days Military/Liberal
1891 1 March 1891 10 June 1894 3 years, 101 days
El Salvador 1891 15c Seebeck Ezeta essay pair yellow brown (cropped).jpg General
Antonio Ezeta
(?–?)
Acting President
4 June 1894 10 June 1894 6 days Military/Liberal
17 Rafael A. Gutierrez.jpg General
Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez
(1845–1921)
Provisional President (1894–1895)
10 June 1894 1 March 1895 264 days Military/Liberal
1895 1 March 1895 14 November 1898 3 years, 258 days
18 Tomas Regalado ii.jpg General
Tomás Regalado Romero
(1861–1906)
Provisional President (1898–1899)
14 November 1898 1 March 1899 107 days Military/Liberal
1899 1 March 1899 1 March 1903 4 years, 0 days
19 Escalon.jpg General
Pedro José Escalón
(1847–1923)
1903 1 March 1903 1 March 1907 4 years, 0 days Military/Conservative
20 Illus-059 (Salvador, 20th Century).jpg General
Fernando Figueroa
(1849–1919)
1907 1 March 1907 1 March 1911 4 years, 0 days Military/Liberal

Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty (1911–1931)

Political parties

      Labor Party
      National Democratic Party
      Independent
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
21 Manuel Enrique Araujo 01.jpg Doctor
Manuel Enrique Araujo
(1865–1913)
1911 1 March 1911 9 February 1913 1 year, 345 days Independent
Carlos Meléndez.jpg Carlos Meléndez Ramírez
(1861–1919)
Provisional President
9 February 1913 29 August 1914 1 year, 201 days National Democratic Party
Alfonso Quiñónez Molina 1915.jpg Doctor
Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
(1874–1950)
Provisional President
29 August 1914 1 March 1915 184 days National Democratic Party
22 Carlos Meléndez.jpg Carlos Meléndez Ramírez
(1861–1919)
1915 1 March 1915 21 December 1918 3 years, 295 days National Democratic Party
Alfonso Quiñónez Molina 1915.jpg Doctor
Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
(1874–1950)
Provisional President
21 December 1918 1 March 1919 184 days National Democratic Party
23 62 Jorge Melendez.jpg Jorge Meléndez Ramírez
(1871–1953)
1919 1 March 1919 1 March 1923 4 years National Democratic Party
24 Alfonso Quiñónez Molina 1915.jpg Doctor
Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
(1874–1950)
1923 1 March 1923 1 March 1927 4 years National Democratic Party
25 Dr. Pio Romero Bosque.jpg Doctor
Pío Romero Bosque
(1860–1935)
1927 1 March 1927 1 March 1931 4 years National Democratic Party
26 Arturo Araujo Fajardo.jpg Arturo Araujo
(1878–1967)
1931 1 March 1931 2 December 1931 276 days Labor Party

Second military dictatorship (1931–1979)

Further information: Military dictatorship in El Salvador
Political parties

      National Conciliation Party
      National Pro Patria Party
      Revolutionary Party of Democratic Unification
      Unification Social Democratic Party
      Military
      Independent
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Directorio1931.jpg Civic Directory 2 December 1931 4 December 1931 2 days Civic Directory
Hernandez Martinez.jpg Brigadier General
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
(1882–1966)
Acting President
4 December 1931 28 August 1934 2 years, 267 days Military/National Pro Patria Party
67 General Andres I. Menendez.jpg Brigadier General
Andrés Ignacio Menéndez
(1879–1962)
Provisional President
28 August 1934 1 March 1935 185 days Military/National Pro Patria Party
27 Hernandez Martinez.jpg Brigadier General
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
(1882–1966)
1935
1939
1944
1 March 1935 9 May 1944 9 years, 69 days Military/National Pro Patria Party
67 General Andres I. Menendez.jpg Brigadier General
Andrés Ignacio Menéndez
(1879–1962)
Provisional President
9 May 1944 21 October 1944 165 days Military/National Pro Patria Party
Coronel Osmin Aguirre.jpg Colonel
Osmín Aguirre y Salinas
(1889–1977)
Provisional President
21 October 1944 1 March 1945 131 days Military
28 Gral-castaneda.jpg General
Salvador Castaneda Castro
(1888–1965)
1945 1 March 1945 14 December 1948 3 years, 288 days Military/Unification Social Democratic Party
Consejo Gobierno Revolucionario.jpg Revolutionary Council of Government [es] 14 December 1948 14 September 1950 1 year, 274 days Revolutionary Council of Government
29 Oscar Osorio.jpg Lieutenant Colonel
Óscar Osorio
(1910–1969)
1950 14 September 1950 14 September 1956 6 years, 0 days Military/Revolutionary Party of Democratic Unification
30 José María Lemus.jpg Lieutenant Colonel
José María Lemus
(1911–1993)
1956 14 September 1956 26 October 1960 4 years, 42 days Military/Revolutionary Party of Democratic Unification
Miembros Junta de Gobierno de El Salvador 1960.jpg Junta of Government 26 October 1960 25 January 1961 91 days Junta of Government
Directorio Cívico-Militar.jpg Civic-Military Directory 25 January 1961 25 January 1962 1 year, 0 days Civic-Military Directory
Rodolfo Cordon.jpg Doctor
Eusebio Rodolfo Cordón Cea
(1899–1966)
Provisional President
25 January 1962 1 July 1962 157 days Independent
31 Julio Adalberto Rivera.jpg Lieutenant Colonel
Julio Adalberto Rivera Carballo
(1921–1973)
1962 1 July 1962 1 July 1967 5 years Military/National Conciliation Party
32 Seal of the President of El Salvador.svg General
Fidel Sánchez Hernández
(1917–2003)
1967 1 July 1967 1 July 1972 5 years Military/National Conciliation Party
33 Seal of the President of El Salvador.svg Colonel
Arturo Armando Molina
(1927–2021)
1972 1 July 1972 1 July 1977 5 years Military/National Conciliation Party
34 Humberto Romero 1977.jpg General
Carlos Humberto Romero
(1924–2017)
1977 1 July 1977 15 October 1979 2 years, 106 days Military/National Conciliation Party

Modern republic (1979–present)

Political parties

      Christian Democratic Party
      Democratic Action Party
      Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
      Nationalist Republican Alliance
      Grand Alliance for National Unity (until 2021)
      Grand Alliance for National Unity (from 2021)
      Nuevas Ideas
      Military
      Acting or provisional leadership

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Affiliation Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Coat of arms of El Salvador.svg First Revolutionary Government Junta 15 October 1979 9 January 1980 86 days First Revolutionary Government Junta
Coat of arms of El Salvador.svg Second Revolutionary Government Junta 9 January 1980 13 December 1980 339 days Second Revolutionary Government Junta
Coat of arms of El Salvador.svg Third Revolutionary Government Junta 13 December 1980 2 May 1982 1 year, 140 days Third Revolutionary Government Junta
35 Seal of the President of El Salvador.svg Doctor
Álvaro Magaña
(1925–2001)
1982 2 May 1982 1 June 1984 2 years, 30 days Democratic Action Party
36 José Napoleón Duarte 1987c.jpg José Napoleón Duarte
(1925–1990)
1984 1 June 1984 1 June 1989 5 years Christian Democratic Party
37 Alfredo Cristiani.jpg Alfredo Cristiani
(born 1947)
1989 1 June 1989 1 June 1994 5 years Nationalist Republican Alliance
38 Armando Calderón Sol.jpg Doctor
Armando Calderón Sol
(1948–2017)
1994 1 June 1994 1 June 1999 5 years Nationalist Republican Alliance
39 President Francisco Flores El Salvador1 (cropped).jpg Francisco Flores Pérez
(1959–2016)
1999 1 June 1999 1 June 2004 5 years Nationalist Republican Alliance
40 Antonio Saca.png Antonio Saca
(born 1965)
2004 1 June 2004 1 June 2009 5 years Nationalist Republican Alliance
41 Mauricio Funes (Brasilia, May 2008).jpg Mauricio Funes
(born 1959)
2009 1 June 2009 1 June 2014 5 years Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
42 Informe de Primer año de Gobierno (18346856652) (cropped).jpg Salvador Sánchez Cerén
(born 1944)
2014 1 June 2014 1 June 2019 5 years Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
  Presidente Bukele.jpg Nayib Bukele
(born 1981)
2019
2024
1 June 2019 Incumbent 5 years, 206 days Grand Alliance for National Unity/Nuevas Ideas
43
 
Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara, Director of Municipal Works.png Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara
(born 1980/1981)
Acting
1 December 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 23 days Nuevas Ideas

Timeline

Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara Nayib Bukele Salvador Sánchez Cerén Mauricio Funes Antonio Saca Francisco Flores Pérez Armando Calderón Sol Alfredo Cristiani José Napoleón Duarte Álvaro Magaña Revolutionary Government Junta of El Salvador Carlos Humberto Romero Arturo Armando Molina Fidel Sánchez Hernández Julio Adalberto Rivera Carballo Eusebio Rodolfo Cordón Cea Civic-Military Directory Junta of Government (El Salvador) José María Lemus Óscar Osorio Revolutionary Council of Government Salvador Castaneda Castro Osmín Aguirre y Salinas Andrés Ignacio Menéndez Maximiliano Hernández Martínez Civic Directory Arturo Araujo Pío Romero Bosque Jorge Meléndez Ramírez Alfonso Quiñónez Molina Carlos Meléndez Ramírez Manuel Enrique Araujo Pedro José Escalón Tomás Regalado Romero Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez Antonio Ezeta Carlos Ezeta Francisco Menéndez José Rosales Herrador Fernando Figueroa Ángel Guirola Rafael Zaldívar Andrés del Valle Manuel Méndez Santiago González Portillo José María Peralta Gerardo Barrios Miguel Santín del Castillo Lorenzo Zepeda Rafael Campo Vicente Gómez (politician) José María San Martín Francisco Dueñas Ramón Rodríguez (Salvadoran politician) Doroteo Vasconcelos José Félix Quirós Tomás Medina Eugenio Aguilar Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán Francisco Malespín Fermín Palacios Cayetano Molina Dionisio Villacorta Juan José Guzmán José Escolástico Marín Pedro José Arce Juan Lindo Norberto Ramírez José María Silva Antonio José Cañas Timoteo Menéndez Diego Vigil Cocaña Francisco Gómez (Salvadoran politician) Nicolás Espinoza José María Silva Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera José Gregorio Salazar Carlos Salazar Castro Joaquín de San Martín Francisco Morazán José Damián Villacorta José María Cornejo Juan Vicente Villacorta Juan Manuel Rodríguez Mariano Prado Consultive Junta (El Salvador) Felipe Codallos Vicente Filísola José Matías Delgado Pedro Barriere

Latest election

2024 Salvadoran general election

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Presidente de El Salvador para niños

kids search engine
President of El Salvador Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.