El Salvador's President has been freed from confinement.
The recent constitutional reform in El Salvador, allowing President Nayib Bukele to run for immediate re-election without the need for a second round of voting, has sparked significant implications and diverse reactions.
Implications:
The reform could enable Bukele to extend his time in office, consolidating political power. This risks weakening democratic checks and balances, as critics argue. The alteration of long-standing constitutional rules designed to prevent prolonged leadership and promote political alternation raises concerns about eroding democratic norms and institutional independence.
The lack of a required second round could reduce electoral competitiveness, possibly favoring the incumbent. It may limit voters’ ability to influence outcomes when multiple candidates are running. The reform also undermines constitutional stability and the separation of powers, especially since it followed a controversial Supreme Court ruling aligned with Bukele's interests.
Reactions:
Bukele’s supporters argue this reform reflects popular will, noting his high approval ratings and framing it as a way to continue his development and security policies without disruption. Opposition groups and many international observers warn that the reform threatens democracy by enabling authoritarian tendencies and weakening institutional safeguards.
Human rights organizations and foreign governments have expressed alarm, pointing to the reform as part of a broader trend of democratic backsliding in the region. Public sentiment is mixed; while many citizens appreciate Bukele’s security and economic initiatives, others worry about the concentration of power and diminishing democratic freedoms.
The opposition condemned the changes as a "public assassination of democracy." The package of amendments was approved by 57 out of 60 legislators, with only three opposing. The next presidential election is proposed to be held in 2027, alongside parliamentary and municipal elections.
The package of constitutional amendments approved on that day included changes to articles 75, 80, 133, 152, and 154 of the constitution. The current president's term will end prematurely on June 1, 2027, shortened from five to three years. The entire process took less than five hours.
This article was authored by Anastasia Dombitskaya.
The constitutional reform, with its policy-and-legislation changes, has sparked diverse reactions, as some argue it risks politics tilting towards authoritarian tendencies and weakening democratic checks and balances, while others support it as a reflection of the general-news of President Nayib Bukele's high approval ratings. The prolonged rule, resulting from war-and-conflicts-related policy continuity, raises concerns for democracy enthusiasts, human rights organizations, and foreign governments who view this move as part of a broader trend of democratic backsliding in the region.
