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El Salvador Approves Unlimited Reelection for President Bukele

8/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

El Salvador's National Assembly has made a controversial move, approving changes that permit President Nayib Bukele to pursue unlimited reelection and extend presidential terms to six years. With a decisive 57-3 vote, the elimination of the second election round has sparked fears of democratic erosion, even as Bukele's popularity soars and his grip on power tightens since 2019.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 Peace Accords ended El Salvador's civil war, establishing a democratic framework dominated by the FMLN and ARENA parties. However, President Nayib Bukele's 2025 constitutional reforms, allowing unlimited reelection, threaten this democratic legacy. Critics warn that this shift could lead to increased authoritarianism, echoing past struggles against dictatorship and undermining the political progress made since the 1990s.

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Story summary

El Salvador's National Assembly has made a controversial move, approving changes that permit President Nayib Bukele to pursue unlimited reelection and extend presidential terms to six years. With a decisive 57-3 vote, the elimination of the second election round has sparked fears of democratic erosion, even as Bukele's popularity soars and his grip on power tightens since 2019.

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