Norman Quijano
Norman Noel Quijano González, born 2 November 1946 in Santa Ana, El Salvador, is a Salvadoran politician who was a longtime member of ARENA (Nationalist Republican Alliance) until 2024. He trained as a dentist at the University of El Salvador, earning his degree in 1977.
Quijano began public service as Manager of Social Action for the San Salvador municipality (1989–1994) under Mayor Armando Calderón Sol. He later served multiple terms in the Legislative Assembly and was secretary of the Assembly from 2006 to 2009.
He was elected Mayor of San Salvador on 18 January 2009 and took office on 1 May 2009. He served as mayor until 15 August 2013, when he resigned to run for president. During his campaign, Gloria Calderón de Oñate acted as interim mayor. After the presidential election, he returned to finish his mayoral term, serving until 1 May 2015.
In October 2012, Quijano ordered a cleanup of San Salvador’s historic center, removing many street vendors. His administration lowered the city’s debt and, by 2011, the city reportedly had a small budget surplus.
In August 2012, Quijano was chosen as ARENA’s candidate for the 2014 presidential election. In that race, he finished second in the first round and then narrowly lost the runoff to Salvador Sánchez Cerén.
From May 2018 to November 2019, Quijano served as President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. He had previously served as a deputy representing San Salvador.
In April 2024, Quijano was sentenced in absentia to 13 years and 4 months in prison for alleged illicit negotiations and electoral fraud. He appealed the conviction, and ARENA expelled him from the party. In March 2025, he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and he was deported back to El Salvador on 26 January 2026 to serve his sentence.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:23 (CET).