Nayib Bukele to run indefinitely. Passed under an expedited process
El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly has approved constitutional changes eliminating presidential term limits, allowing President Nayib Bukele to run indefinitely. Passed under an expedited process, the reform also extends presidential terms from five to six years and advances the next election to 2027.
Bukele, in office since 2019, remains a divisive figure. While praised for reducing crime, rights groups allege thousands have been arbitrarily detained. “Today, democracy has died in El Salvador,” said opposition MP Marcela Villatoro.
Fifty-seven Bukele-aligned lawmakers supported the reform, with only three voting against it. “Thank you for making history, fellow deputies,” said Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro.
Despite a constitutional ban, Bukele secured a second term last year after a Bukele-backed court ruled in 2021 that re-election was a human right. The reform also shortens his current term by two years to align national elections.
Noah Bullock of Cristosal criticized the move, saying it enables indefinite power. Amnesty International warned of a “gradual replacement of gang violence with state violence.”