El Salvador removes term limits, paving way for another Bukele presidency
El Salvador Paves Path for Unlimited Presidential Re‑election
On Thursday, El Salvador’s congress, dominated by President Nayib Bukele, approved a constitutional overhaul that not only extends the presidential term from five to six years but also removes the restriction that would bar successive re‑election.
Key Elements of the Reform
- Re‑election “without reservation” for all office holders
- Extension of the presidential term from five to six years
- Elimination of a second round in future presidential elections
- Synchronization of legislative, presidential, and municipal elections
- Shortening of the current presidential term by two years, moving general elections to March 2027
Reaction and Context
While Bukele has cultivated massive domestic support for his decisive anti‑gang campaign, international human rights groups have sharply criticized the new reforms and the government’s crackdown on critics. The reform follows a wave of arrests targeting human rights defenders, journalists, and humanitarian workers, prompting dozens of activists to flee the country.
Opposition’s View
Opposition lawmakers and political analysts denounce the move as a step toward dictatorship. “Today, democracy has died in El Salvador,” opposition lawmaker Marcela Villatoro said, criticizing the reforms just as the country enters a week‑long vacation.
International Human Rights Assessment
Human Rights Watch’s Americas director Juanita Goebertus warned that El Salvador is following “Venezuela’s path”, a leader who consolidates power and ends in dictatorship. Miguel Montenegro of the nongovernmental Human Rights Commission said the reforms “completely dismantle what little democracy remained.”
Presidential Response
In a speech marking the first year of his second term, Bukele brushed off calls of dictatorship and dismissed international criticism over the arrest of humanitarian activists. He stressed his focus on reducing gang violence and maintaining public security.
Crackdown on Critics
The administration’s rigorous crackdown on dissent has drawn international attention. The government detained 252 Venezuelan nationals for four months in a prison built for gang members. Many of the detainees later reported torture and abuse. The crackdown continued in May and June, detaining human rights defenders, including lawyer Ruth Lopez, after she publicly denounced alleged cases of government corruption.
Current Human Rights Situation
Under the emergency regime, roughly 88,000 people have been arrested on gang‑related charges. Rights groups report that thousands were detained arbitrarily, and more than 400 have died in custody.
Although Bukele’s 2024 re‑election already sparked significant controversy—many critics argued it violated the constitution and was enabled by a ruling from loyalist judges—this latest constitutional overhaul marks a clear shift toward extended executive power and a further tightening of democratic safeguards.
