Mauricio Funes (born October 18 1959 in San Salvador in El Salvador) is a candidate for the presidential election of Salvador, 15 March 2009. He represents the left-wing party, the Frente Farabundo Marti National Liberation, FMLN. TV journalist and newcomer in politics, he jolted El Salvador in assuming a large lead in the race as a candidate of the FMLN who led a war of guerrila for twelve years. After decades of dictatorship and of ultra-conservatism, a victory for Funes would represent a historic turning point for the entire nation whose memories of war are still alive. Funes hopes to position itself as a Post war generation leader that affects 350,000 young Salvadorans who are eligible to vote for the first time.