President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has set the stage for potentially extending his leadership by reforming the nation’s electoral system through his party, New Ideas.
The new bill extends presidential terms to six years and allows for indefinite presidential re-election.
Previously, presidents in El Salvador served five-year terms without the possibility of immediate re-election. However, in a significant change in 2021, the Supreme Court — filled with justices chosen by Bukele’s own party — decided that a president could pursue a second consecutive term, according to The Associated Press.
Critics said Bukele’s re-election in 2024 was unconstitutional.
Since his first election in 2019, Bukele has become a divisive leader; his stringent measures against crime have gained him widespread popularity among the public, yet opponents are concerned about his potential bid to amass greater power. While his crime-fighting strategies have significantly reduced homicide rates, human rights organizations claim that many innocent individuals have been unjustly detained.
In a July 2024 report, Human Rights Watch found that around 3,000 minors were impacted by the crackdown that started in 2022. The report highlights the case of a 17-year-old girl who was arrested without a warrant and coerced into admitting to affiliations with the MS-13 gang, allegations she refuted.
Last year, Bukele told Time magazine that he would not seek a third term, though he could change his tune following the constitutional reforms.
