Impactful six years Nayib Bukele Presidency of El Salvador has been one of the most impactful six years. Though his leadership might have best exemplified advances to good governance, civil liberties, and public safety. While supporters laud his early accomplishments, critics contend that his administration has become a dictatorship, with the balance of power swept to rest firmly in his hands. This dramatic decision should send everyone who cares about the future of democracy in our great nation into a panic. Human rights organizations and political analysts are raising alarms about Bukele’s approach.
Juan Pappier, deputy director for Latin America at Human Rights Watch, stated that Bukele’s rule represents a “massive concentration of power in his hands.” Observers have noted that his allies in Congress have replaced top justices of the Supreme Court with judges who interpret the constitution favorably for the president. This type of legal maneuvering strikes at the heart of the independence of the judiciary. It also places the health of democratic institutions in El Salvador under renewed scrutiny.
In 2019, Bukele shocked the world—and Salvadorans—by meeting with leaders of his country’s most powerful gangs. For years he managed to convince mafia members to refrain from violent activities such as murder and extortion. He has accused the allegations that he cut deals with gang leaders to be an “obvious lie.” We should not lose sight of the impact resulting from his administration’s inflexible approach to crime. His government has been pursuing an internationally condemned crackdown. This strategic mass arrest effort has led to the arrest, prosecution and incarceration of an estimated 87,000 people.
Later in 2021, Bukele introduced a law to tax foreign agents but couldn’t get it through Congress. A subsequent law taxing foreign donations to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at a rate of 30% successfully passed through Congress. This legislation would be an “existential threat” to NGOs such as Cristosal. These organizations are doing heroic work to defend human rights in the country. The implications of this law have activists worried that civil society in El Salvador could soon lose many of its key components.
Bukele’s dictatorial policies have racked up a staggering amount of praise from influential international figures. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, specifically, heralded his muscle-flexing methods of crime management. This endorsement particularly highlights the heaviness of the international relationship as we navigate domestic conflicts.
The plot thickens even more. His decision to detain hundreds of Venezuela deportees in El Salvador’s Center for Confinement of Terrorist Act persons compounds Bukele’s controversial authoritarian techno-governance. His reelection last year, despite constitutional barriers against serving a second term, indicates a significant shift in the political landscape, raising questions about adherence to democratic norms.
“Right now, we can say very openly that we are under a dictatorship.” – Gracia Grande
Indeed, for many observers, El Salvador stands out as the clearest case of this “laboratory” thesis—to be used in other countries if and when similar practices become necessary. In response to these disturbing trends, NGO worker Grande issued a call for vigilance in defending democratic principles.
As observers have pointed out, having a military presence on the streets is an indication that we live in a war-like society, not a peaceful society.
“Here we see soldiers armed to the teeth in the streets, the police, even armored trucks in the streets — tanks. That’s synonymous with a country at war.” – Samuel Ramírez
Independent journalism has been under attack in Bukele’s administration as well. Noah Bullock remarked on the precarious state of democracy in El Salvador:
“If there was any semblance of democracy left in El Salvador, it was in independent journalism.”
This comment emphasizes the withdrawal of media freedom and expression within the country.
While El Salvador still tends to navigate the shockwaves of all these events, the mood among the citizens about Bukele’s governing style is one of stark polarity. While some appreciate his crackdown on crime and efforts to improve public safety, others fear the implications of his expansive control over state apparatuses and erosion of democratic norms.
