President Nayib Bukele’s approval to seek a third consecutive term marks one of the most significant political transformations in El Salvador’s recent history, following a series of constitutional reforms driven by his party, Nuevas Ideas.
Bukele consolidated his power through a legislative supermajority, with 57 of the Legislative Assembly’s 60 seats, giving his government the ability to pass sweeping constitutional and political reforms.
The most significant changes include:
- Eliminating presidential term limits, allowing indefinite reelection.
- Extending the presidential term from five to six years.
- Abolishing the presidential runoff system, allowing candidates to win with a simple majority.
- Synchronizing presidential, legislative, and municipal elections.
The 2021 overhaul of the judiciary, including the dismissal of Constitutional Chamber justices and the attorney general, followed by a new constitutional interpretation allowing immediate presidential reelection, paved the way for Bukele’s continued hold on power.
Bukele continues to enjoy approval ratings above 80%, largely driven by his aggressive anti-gang security strategy, under which more than 90,000 people have been arrested since the state of emergency was declared in 2022.
At the same time, national and international human rights organizations have criticized the erosion of judicial independence, the prolonged state of emergency, alleged arbitrary arrests, restrictions on due process, and the growing concentration of power in the executive branch.
Overall, El Salvador’s experience illustrates how strong public support, a legislative supermajority, constitutional reforms, and institutional changes have enabled Bukele to consolidate an unprecedented level of political power, while continuing to fuel debate between supporters who credit him with restoring security and critics who warn about the weakening of democratic checks and balances.
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