President Nayib Bukele: El Salvador approves unlimited re -election of the head of state

The Parliament of El Salvador, in which President Nayib Bukele’s party has the absolute majority, has approved the unlimited re -election of the head of state.

In the quick proceedings, the 57 -loving members of the government decided to amend a constitution, which also extends the term of the president’s term from five to six years. Only the three representatives of the opposition voted against it. The changes must still be confirmed in a second vote, which is considered safe.

“Thank you for writing history,” said the President of the Legislative, Ernesto Castro, to his colleagues at the Nuevas Ideas government party (new ideas) in parliament. “Democracy has died today,” criticized MP Marcela Villatoro from the opposition party Arena.

Bukele enforced his controversial re -election in 2024

The 44-year-old Bukele has ruled the smallest Central American country since 2019 and is hard against gang crime. Since 2022, the state has been in the country with six million inhabitants. Activists denounce arbitrary arrests and serious human rights violations. Bukele mockingly described himself as the “coolest dictator in the world”.

Despite the re -election ban anchored in the constitution, Bukele was re -elected with around 85 percent of the vote last year. Government -loving constitutional judges had made his candidacy possible.

The new regulation decided stipulates that the current term of office of the President ends on June 1, 2027, i.e. two years earlier than originally planned. In the future, presidential, parliamentary and local elections will take place at the same time. In addition, the second round of election is abolished. A simple majority will suffice to become president.