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El Salvador: Presidents can now serve indefinitely.

01.08.2025 19:55

El Salvador's legislature has dramatically altered the country's political landscape, approving constitutional amendments that permit indefinite presidential reelection. This sweeping change, passed with overwhelming support from President Nayib Bukele's New Ideas party and its allies, effectively allows him to remain in power beyond his current term.

The package of five reforms, approved by a 57-3 vote, also extends the presidential term from five to six years and eliminates the need for runoff elections. These legislative maneuvers, according to the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, significantly reshape the nation's electoral system. Critics, however, see these changes as a dangerous concentration of power, undermining established democratic checks and balances. The removal of term limits, a cornerstone of preventing executive overreach, has sparked widespread alarm.

Adding to the controversy, a proposal by New Ideas lawmaker Ana Figueroa aims to shorten President Bukele's current term by two years, ending it on June 1, 2027, instead of June 1, 2029. This unexpected move, Figueroa argues, will save significant taxpayer funds. She claimed that eliminating runoff elections would save approximately $50 million, funds that could be better utilized to build new hospitals and schools.

Sharp opposition to these reforms has emerged, with dissenting voices decrying the erosion of democratic principles. Marcela Villatoro, a lawmaker from the Nationalist Republican Alliance party, one of three who voted against the proposals, declared the vote the death knell of democracy in El Salvador. She voiced concerns about the accumulation of unchecked power, leading to corruption and clientelism, hindering genuine political participation. Conversely, Suecy Callejas, a member of the New Ideas party and first vice president of the Legislative Assembly, defended the changes, asserting that power had been rightfully returned to the Salvadoran people.

These constitutional amendments are unfolding against a backdrop of growing international concern over El Salvador's democratic trajectory. Recent events, such as the government's controversial retention of a lawyer facing accusations, further fuel these anxieties, highlighting the complex challenges facing the nation's political future. These developments are sourced from internet sources.