Salvadoran right-wing President Nayib Bukele will run for a third term in the elections scheduled for February 28 by the country’s electoral court, following a highly controversial constitutional amendment that now allows the head of state to serve an unlimited number of terms.
In power since 2019, Mr. Bukele has effectively concentrated all powers in his hands. He will remain in office until 2033 if he wins these elections.
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At 45, he enjoys very high popularity, thanks to the “war on gangs” he declared, which has resulted in a dramatic drop in crime. However, his policies have been criticized by UN experts and NGOs, who allege abuses that could constitute crimes against humanity.
The state of emergency he imposed in 2022 in this Central American country—which remains in effect—has led to the arrest of some 93,000 people without warrants.
The president in question either dismisses out of hand—or mocks—the allegations of human rights violations.
The electoral court “carries out its duties with complete independence,” said its president, Roxana Soriano, yesterday. She was elected by Congress, where President Bukele’s party holds an overwhelming majority of seats.
Based on what is known so far, Mr. Bukele’s opponents in the presidential election will be former Congresswoman Maite Iraeta of the Democratic Nationalist Alliance (ARENA, right), and Rafael Aguirre, leader of a doctors’ union and a member of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN, left). These two parties alternated in power for 30 years until Mr. Bukele entered the political scene.
The fact that the outgoing president can run for office again is due to Congress’s 2025 repeal of the term-limit restriction. The few opposition lawmakers viewed this decision as “the death of democracy” in El Salvador.
Already, in 2024, his triumphant reelection—with a staggering 85% of the vote—had been contested and labeled unconstitutional by his opponents. However, his victory was upheld by judges sympathetic to the ruling party.
In addition to allowing for re-election to an unlimited number of terms as president, the reform extended the head of state’s term from five to six years and abolished the second round of presidential elections.
His current, second term was shortened by two years so that its end would coincide with the presidential and local elections.
Source: skai.gr
