El Salvador parliament passes reform enabling Bukele to run indefinitely
El Salvador Removes Presidential Term Limits, Enabling Nayib Bukele to Serve Indefinitely
The Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that eliminates term limits, extending the presidential term from five to six years and abolishing the requirement for a runoff election. Only three opposition members voted against the reform, while 57 legislators from the ruling Nuevas Ideas party endorsed it.
Key Provisions of the Amendment
- Presidential re‑election is permitted without reservations.
- The presidential term is lengthened to six years.
- A second round of voting is eliminated for general elections.
- Legislative, presidential, and municipal elections are synchronized.
- The current presidential term is shortened by two years, creating a new election cycle in March 2027.
Political Context
Nayib Bukele, who has occupied the presidency since 2019, secured an overwhelming majority in the 2024 election after a Supreme Court ruling allowed him to bypass a constitutional ban on successive terms. His administration has been praised for reducing gang violence to historic lows, but it has faced international criticism for alleged repression of journalists, rights activists, and political critics.
Opposition Reaction
Opposition lawmaker Marcela Villatoro decried the proposal as “the day democracy has died,” while Human Rights Commission director Miguel Montenegro called the reforms “a total imbalance in democracy that no longer exists.” Claudia Ortiz labeled the amendment an “abuse of power and a caricature of democracy.”
Implications for El Salvador’s Democracy
By removing term limits and canceling runoffs, the amendment consolidates Bukele’s control over state institutions and the parliament. Although the reforms have been justified by the president’s anti‑crime agenda, the move raises serious concerns about the erosion of democratic safeguards and the potential for authoritarian consolidation in El Salvador.
