El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly has taken a courageous step in approving the far-reaching constitutional amendments. These changes will legalize indefinite presidential reelection, a measure widely championed by current president Nayib Bukele. The Assembly toiled over the reforms and won a landslide victory, passing with 57 members in favor and just three against. This outcome represents a fundamental change in the country’s political terrain. In addition to the above changes, the approved changes increase the presidential term from five to six years.
President Bukele cities Bukele is immensely popular for his recently implemented, hardline approach towards the country’s dangerous maras or street gangs. He introduced these reforms by way of Lawmaker Ana Figueroa as a member of the New Ideas party. Despite an earlier constitutional ban on reelection, Bukele made a splash by loudly declaring that he intended to run again. He subsequently won a landslide reelection last year under highly dubious circumstances.
The constitutional amendments would let Bukele run for reelection to a four-year term two years sooner than currently defined. His current term expires on June 1, 2029. If he wins again, his second term could end two years early on June 1, 2027.
In an unprecedented decision, Supreme Court justices appointed by Bukele’s party ruled in 2021 that he could seek reelection to a second five-year term. This decision created a storm of anger and protest both domestically and internationally. This court ruling raised alarm among several other human rights groups. They condemned the arrest of well-known attorneys and other dissidents, who have stood in opposition to Bukele’s increasingly authoritarian rule.
While the Biden administration first showed some concern about Bukele’s moves, they have recently taken a far quieter approach. Human rights critics say that the indefinite reelection policy undermines democracy.
“You don’t realize what indefinite reelection brings: It brings an accumulation of power and weakens democracy … there’s corruption and clientelism because nepotism grows and halts democracy and political participation.” – A concerned female speaker
El Salvador’s most vocal critic, Marcela Villatoro, declared dramatically, “Democracy in El Salvador has died! Meanwhile, Suecy Callejas, a vocal figure in this discourse, remarked, “Power has returned to the only place that it truly belongs … to the Salvadoran people.”
As these developments unfold, international observers continue to monitor the implications of these constitutional changes on governance and civil liberties in El Salvador.
