Politics El Salvador approves indefinite re-election of head of state
The parliament of El Salvador, in which President Nayib Bukele's party has an absolute majority, has approved the unlimited re-election of the head of state.
01.08.2025, 13:33
SDA
In a fast-track procedure, the 57 MPs loyal to the government passed a constitutional amendment that also extends the president's term of office from five to six years. Only the three opposition representatives voted against. The amendments still have to be confirmed in a second vote, which is considered certain.
"Thank you for making history," said the president of the legislature, Ernesto Castro, to his colleagues from the ruling party Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas) in parliament. "Democracy has died today," criticized MP Marcela Villatoro from the opposition Arena party.
Bukele won his controversial re-election in 2024
44-year-old Bukele has governed the smallest Central American country since 2019 and is cracking down on gang crime. A state of emergency has been in force in the country of six million people since 2022. Activists denounce arbitrary arrests and serious human rights violations. Bukele mockingly referred to himself as the "coolest dictator in the world".
Despite the ban on re-election enshrined in the constitution, Bukele was re-elected last year with around 85% of the vote. Constitutional judges loyal to the government had made his candidacy possible.
The new regulations agreed upon stipulate that the president's current term of office will end on June 1, 2027, two years earlier than originally planned. This means that presidential, parliamentary and local elections will take place at the same time in future. The second round of elections will also be abolished. A simple majority will be enough to become president.
