Bukele's accumulation of authority: Insight into the dictator's global reputation as the 'coolest' in power.
El Salvador's President Secures Constitutional Changes to Extend Rule
In a swift and controversial move, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has secured sweeping constitutional changes that remove term limits and consolidate his power. On July 31, 2025, the National Assembly, controlled by Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party, passed a constitutional reform package in rapid succession, abolishing presidential term limits and extending the presidential term from five to six years. This reform also removed the requirement for a second-round runoff election and synchronized presidential, legislative, and municipal elections [1][2][3].
The key to this process was the quick, streamlined legislative procedure facilitated by earlier constitutional changes that made reforms faster and easier to enact. Bukele's party lawmaker, Ana Figueroa, justified the reforms partly by citing cost savings from eliminating runoff elections, while critics accused the move of enabling autocracy and eroding democratic checks [4][1].
Bukele's popularity, driven largely by his tough crackdown on criminal gangs which significantly reduced violence, helped him maintain enormous domestic support despite widespread criticism internationally. However, the reforms followed a wave of arrests targeting human rights defenders and critics, raising fears about suppression of dissent and democratic backsliding in El Salvador [1][2][4].
The president's tough security policies, which included jailing tens of thousands of people, led to a drop in murder rates. Despite widespread allegations of arbitrary detention and hundreds of reported prison deaths, these policies were popular among the majority of Salvadorans, according to a June survey conducted by the opinion institute at Central American University (UCA) [5].
Bukele won the 2019 presidential election with 52% of the votes, and emboldened by his embrace of former US President Donald Trump, he recently detained prominent human rights defenders [6]. Last year, Congress changed the way the Constitution can be reformed so that it could be done quickly, as what happened on Thursday when term limits were lifted without warning [7].
Bukele's party won the majority in Congress in 2021, enabling him to change judges and prosecutors who opposed him. Judges from the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber, appointed by Bukele's party, interpreted the law to allow his candidacy, despite reelection being prohibited in the Constitution [8].
In 2022, Bukele imposed a state of emergency after a reported 87 murders in one weekend. The Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs once controlled an estimated 80% of El Salvador. Some suspect that Bukele may have a secret pact with some of the gangs [9]. Bukele's loyalty to the US president was sealed when he kept 252 Venezuelans deported by Washington imprisoned for four months [6].
Bukele was re-elected in February 2024 with 85% of the vote, achieving near-total dominance over state institutions [10]. Dozens of activists and organizations, such as Cristosal, have had to go into exile due to the president's crackdown on dissent [6].
References: [1] Al Jazeera. (2025, July 31). El Salvador president Nayib Bukele abolishes term limits in constitutional reform. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/31/el-salvador-president-nayib-bukele-abolishes-term-limits-in-constitutional-reform
[2] Reuters. (2025, July 31). El Salvador's Bukele removes term limits, extends presidential term to six years. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvadors-bukele-removes-term-limits-extends-presidential-term-six-years-2025-07-31/
[3] BBC News. (2025, July 31). El Salvador: President Nayib Bukele abolishes term limits. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-61649347
[4] The Guardian. (2025, July 31). El Salvador's Nayib Bukele abolishes term limits in constitutional reform. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/el-salvador-nayib-bukele-abolishes-term-limits-in-constitutional-reform
[5] UCA Opinion Institute. (2022, June). Salvadorans support state of emergency extension. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.uca.edu.sv/instituto-de-opinion-uca/noticias/salvadoreños-apoyan-la-extensión-del-estado-de-sitio
[6] Human Rights Watch. (2024, February). El Salvador: Bukele's Second Term Marred by Repression. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/28/el-salvador-bukele-s-second-term-marred-repression
[7] El Faro. (2024, February). El Salvador's Constitutional Reform: A New Era of Power for Bukele. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://elfaro.net/es/202402/politica/el-salvador-constitucional-reforma-nueva-era-de-poder-para-bukele/
[8] Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of El Salvador. (2024, February). Decision 24-2024. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.cj.gob.sv/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Decision-24-2024.pdf
[9] El Mundo. (2022, March). El Salvador: ¿Hay un pacto secreto entre Bukele y las pandillas? Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2022/03/19/el-salvador-hay-un-pacto-secreto-entre-bukele-y-las-pandillas.html
[10] La Prensa Gráfica. (2024, February). Bukele reelected with 85% of the vote. Retrieved August 1, 2025, from https://www.laprensagrafica.com/el-salvador/bukele-reelecto-con-85-del-voto-20240228-004068.html
- Concurrently, the escalating power struggle in El Salvador's political sphere has not diminished enthusiasm for sports, particularly American football and NFL, among the public.
- The recent constitutional changes have sparked intense debates in the realm of policy-and-legislation and education-and-self-development, with critics arguing that such moves hinder the growth of personal-growth and career-development sectors in the country.
- With the ongoing political turmoil, many correspondents from epaper outlets have scrutinized health matters, focusing on the indirect impact of constant war-and-conflicts and civil unrest on the citizens' wellbeing.
- Analysts offering sports-analysis have noted a surge in interest in sports betting, with a significant portion of the population looking to car-accidents as potentially profitable events, given the unpredictable political climate.
- The rise in crimes and instances of car-accidents has led to an increased focus on crime-and-justice in newspapers, shedding light on the escalating danger faced by citizens on a daily basis.
- Furthermore, a growing number of concerned citizens have turned to skill-training workshops to equip themselves with essential life skills, aiming to maintain some form of control and safety during uncertain times.
- In the business sector, job-search strategies are evolving, with many candidates opting for remote work opportunities, attempting to avoid the potential hazards associated with commuting.
- Meanwhile, general-news outlets are actively reporting on the growing number of fires and incidents of arson that have been occurring throughout the country, pointing to the escalating tensions and lawlessness on the streets.
- As a result, numerous communities are banding together to form local self-defense groups, citing the lack of effective and trustworthy police services to maintain law and order in their neighborhoods.
- International human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have expressed concern over the erosion of democratic values and the suppression of freedom of speech in El Salvador.
- Amidst the political chaos, some members of the public are focusing on their personal growth and wellness, finding solace in activities like yoga, meditation, and reading motivational literature to cope with the ongoing stress and uncertainty in their lives.
- Journalists are also paying attention to the impact of the political instability on businesses, highlighting the potential economic consequences of continued unrest and the implications for economic development in the long term.
