SAN SALVADOR (Realist English). El Salvador’s legislative assembly has voted to eliminate presidential term limits, effectively allowing President Nayib Bukele to remain in office indefinitely — a move widely seen as the culmination of his years-long consolidation of power.
The vote, passed overwhelmingly by Bukele’s allies in the legislature, formalises the president’s ability to seek unlimited re-election in the future. It follows a broader campaign of institutional control, including the replacement of Constitutional Court judges and an aggressive crackdown on dissent.
Bukele, who once branded himself the “world’s coolest dictator,” remains wildly popular at home. His 2022 anti-gang offensive dramatically reduced homicide rates and earned him support across much of Latin America. Surveys consistently show his approval ratings above 80%.
Supporters credit him with restoring security and dismantling the criminal networks that long plagued the country. But rights groups and critics argue that Bukele has used public backing as a shield to erode democratic checks and silence opposition.
In recent months, a leading human rights defender has been imprisoned, and dozens of independent journalists have reportedly fled the country amid rising repression.
“Democracy in El Salvador has died,” said Marcela Villatoro, one of just three opposition lawmakers to vote against the measure.
The move has deepened fears among observers that El Salvador is moving rapidly toward authoritarian rule under a leader who no longer faces institutional constraints.
