Full Breakdown
Bukele Eyes Third Term in El Salvador’s 2027 General Election
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: 2027 Presidential Election Called
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) announced on September 30, 2026 that El Salvador will hold general elections on February 28, 2027. The ballot will include the presidency, vice-presidency, all 60 Legislative Assembly seats, municipal councils and six overseas deputies. President Nayib Bukele of Nuevas Ideas (NI) will seek a third consecutive term, enabled by constitutional reforms that removed term limits.
Background & Context
On July 31, 2025, the Legislative Assembly approved an amendment permitting immediate re-election, extending the presidential term to six years and eliminating the runoff. The change moved the election forward from 2029 to 2027, allowing Bukele, in office since 2019, to run again. His administration is credited with a sharp decline in gang-related violence after a 2022 state of exception that saw roughly 92,000 arrests, many without charge.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2025 | Constitutional amendment approved. |
| September 30, 2026 | TSE calls the 2027 elections. |
| October 1, 2026 | Candidate registration opens. |
| October 27, 2026 | Presidential campaign window opens (121 days). |
| November 11, 2026 | Court accepts certification requests. |
| November 19, 2026 | Deadline for presidential and parliamentary filing. |
| December 27, 2026 | Parliamentary campaign window opens (60 days). |
| December 29, 2026 | Voter register closes. |
| January 27, 2027 | Municipal council campaign opens (29 days). |
| February 24, 2027 | All campaign windows close. |
| February 28, 2027 | General election day (scheduled). |
Data & Statistics
- 582 elected positions will be decided, including president and vice-president (TSE President Roxana Soriano).
- The Legislative Assembly has 60 seats; six are for Salvadorans abroad.
- Approximately 982,682 Salvadorans overseas—mainly in the United States—are eligible to vote.
- Five parties have announced presidential tickets: Nuevas Ideas, FMLN, ARENA, PCN and FPS.
- Human-rights NGOs report allegations of torture and other abuses tied to the 2022 state of exception.
Official Statements & Responses
- Roxana Soriano, TSE President, said the tribunal will conduct the election with “impartiality and independence.”
- Walter Sosa, president of the Court of Accounts, pledged to issue financial-clearance certificates within eight days via a new online system.
- President Nayib Bukele dismissed criticism, referring to himself as the “world’s coolest dictator.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Rafael Aguirre, FMLN candidate, urged the TSE to admit observers from “any organisation.”
- Mayteé Iraheta, ARENA candidate, called the process “questionable.”
- Orlando Delcid, FPS candidate, said the tribunal fairly rejected his earlier party-founding attempt.
- Human-rights NGOs allege the mass arrests could constitute crimes against humanity, a claim Bukele rejects.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Publication of the formal decree in the official gazette could not be independently confirmed as of September 30, 2026, and the TSE website was temporarily offline, leaving the call’s formal status uncertain.
- It remains unclear how many presidential tickets will survive the TSE’s review or whether independent observer missions will be accredited.
What’s Next
- Candidate registration stays open until November 19, 2026; parties must secure financial-clearance certificates by November 11, 2026.
- Campaign periods run from October 27, 2026 (presidential) through February 24, 2027 (all offices).
- The TSE indicated overseas voting will include six legislative seats, potentially influencing the Assembly’s final composition.
- Observers and civil-society groups are expected to seek accreditation ahead of the election, pending the tribunal’s final decree.