port in 2010 Funes was inaugurated as President of El Salvador on 1 June 2009 marking the first
peaceful transition of power since the end of the civil war. Funes also appointed
cabinet consisting of 13 ministers. After coming to power, Funes's administration implemented a wide range of social reforms designed to combat poverty and inequality, including the institution of various poverty alleviation programs in the most impoverished communities, the abolition of public health care fees, the introduction of free shoes, the introduction of monthly cash transfers and job training for those living in
extreme poverty, and pensions for the elderly. In addition, investments were made in improving school infrastructure, a presidential decree was issued against discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation in the public services, two working groups on indigenous affairs were created as a means of bringing about better representation of the interests of El Salvador's indigenous communities, a community health plan was introduced, teachers' salaries were increased, and measures were introduced to combat illiteracy. In November 2009, Funes had to face the
natural disaster that greatly affected communities in Cuscatlán, San Salvador and San Vicente as a result of the rain brought by
Hurricane Ida. A community in San Vicente called
Verapaz disappeared because it was buried by huge rocks that fell from the nearby
volcano. Civil Protection, which is the government entity in charge of handling catastrophes, rehabilitated public schools in which refugees stayed for more than three months while they found a place to stay from family or friends. The Army and the
Red Cross of El Salvador rescued many people from the communities. Funes was criticized for lack of a plan to fight El Salvador's increased
crime. In response, the President ordered the deployment of the army to cooperate with police authorities in their fight against crime. In 2010, there were reports of
death squads operating in El Salvador, due in part to a lack of response of the police. In January 2010, after a public denouncement of Funes's former cabinet member Francisco Gómez, Salvadoran media uncovered plans whereby almost all government publicity and advertising were to be handled, without any previous public tendering process (as required by Salvadoran Law), by
advertising agency Polistepeque, S.A. de C.V. Some advisers to the president were members of its board of directors, and allegedly Funes himself had some participation through stock in that agency. In response, Funes said no other advertising agency in El Salvador had the experience or capacity to manage government publicity and advertising, despite the fact that El Salvador has many local and international advertising agencies such as
BBDO. In 2016, Funes denied giving perks to gangs during the
2012–14 truce.
Apologies for past atrocities In November 2009, Funes posthumously bestowed the
National Order of José Matías Delgado, then El Salvador's highest order, to the
six Jesuits murdered by the Salvadoran military in 1989 during the civil war. The orders were given to the victims' families and friends. Funes states that the awards "signify [...] removing a thick veil of darkness and lies to let in the light of justice and truth" (""). in 2015 On 16 January 2010 (the 18th anniversary of the end of the Salvadoran Civil War), Funes apologized for Salvadoran government atrocities that occurred during the civil, stating that "in the name of the state of El Salvador, I ask for pardon". Funes also apologized for the 1981
El Mozote massacre in particular.
Armando Calderón Sol, a former President of El Salvador from ARENA, criticized Funes' apology, stating that "the State should never apologize" (""). On 24 March 2010, Funes apologized for the assassination of Archbishop
Óscar Romero on the 30th anniversary of Romero's assassination. Funes declared Romero to be "the spiritual guide of the nation". In 2013, Funes traveled to the
Vatican City and met
Pope Francis. There, Funes gave Francis a bloodstained portion of Romero's vestment he wore at the time of his assassination. After Funes' presidency, he attended the Romero's beatification ceremony in 2015. On 12 October 2010 (
Columbus Day in El Salvador), Funes apologized to El Salvador's indigenous community for previous atrocities that the Salvadoran government committed against Indigenous Salvadorans, particularly for mass killings following
Anastasio Aquino's rebellion in 1832 and in 1932. He described the latter as a "
genocide" that forced Indigenous Salvadorans to change their indigenous names to avoid further persecution. == Post-presidency ==