Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

In El Salvador, some big changes have been made to the country’s constitution. The Legislative Assembly, which is like a parliament, has approved new rules that now allow a president to be re-elected as many times as they want. Earlier, a president could only serve one term, but now President Nayib Bukele can run again and again if the people keep voting for him.

These changes were made on a Thursday, when lawmakers voted to change five important parts of the constitution. These new rules not only allow indefinite presidential re-election, but also extend the length of each term from five years to six years. This means that if a president is elected, they will now serve for six years before the next election.

The Plan Behind the Changes

The lawmaker who brought this proposal was Ana Figueroa. She is from the ruling political party called New Ideas, the same party as President Bukele. She said that other government officials, like lawmakers and mayors, have always been allowed to run again and again, so the same rule should apply to the president. She also suggested ending the second round of voting. Right now, if no one wins clearly in the first round, the top two candidates compete in a second round. That round will now be removed if the reforms become final.

Figueroa also proposed changing the date when Bukele’s current term ends. It was set to end in 2029, but under the new plan, it would end in 2027. This way, both presidential and congressional elections would happen at the same time, and Bukele could run again earlier than expected.

How the Vote Happened

The ruling party, New Ideas, and its allies control most of the Legislative Assembly. Because they have a supermajority, or a large number of votes, they were able to approve the changes quickly. The vote passed with 57 lawmakers supporting the changes and only three voting against them.

Why Some People Are Worried

Not everyone is happy about this. Some lawmakers and citizens believe this change could harm democracy. One of the lawmakers who voted no, Marcela Villatoro from the Arena party, said that allowing indefinite re-election could lead to a dangerous amount of power being held by one person. She warned that this might lead to more corruption, more favoritism in hiring family and friends, and less freedom for others to take part in politics.

Villatoro said clearly, “Democracy in El Salvador has died!” She believes that when one person or one party has too much power, it becomes harder for other voices to be heard.

Supporters Say People Have the Power

However, not all lawmakers agree with her. Suecy Callejas, the vice-president of the Assembly, said this change gives power back to the people. She believes that if the people vote for someone again and again, it means they truly support that leader.

Bukele himself has not given any public comment about the changes yet. But many believe that these reforms were designed to help him stay in power even longer.

Bukele’s Past Actions Raised Concerns

Back in 2021, Bukele’s party removed the top judges from the Supreme Court. These judges had earlier said re-election was not allowed. Once those judges were removed, new judges picked by Bukele’s party said that running for a second term was okay. Many people believe that was the beginning of a plan to let Bukele stay in office longer.

That same year, critics began to say that Bukele was trying to take too much power. But many citizens still supported him, especially because of his tough actions against criminal gangs in the country.

Why People Still Support Bukele

President Bukele is very popular in El Salvador. He became famous for fighting against the country’s dangerous gangs. Under his leadership, many gang members were arrested and put into prison. People felt safer on the streets, and crime dropped. That’s why many people are willing to support Bukele, even if he takes actions that worry international organizations or human rights groups.

Concerns From Around the World

Even though people in El Salvador support Bukele, other countries have shown concern. The United States at first said they were worried about how Bukele was gaining more power. But over time, they stopped speaking out as loudly. Recently, after Donald Trump returned to the White House, Bukele found a strong ally. He even helped Trump by accepting deported people from other countries into El Salvador’s new prison.

Some people think Bukele is becoming a role model for other leaders in Latin America who also want to gain more power and stay in office longer.

Attacks on Critics and Human Rights Groups

In recent months, Bukele’s government has been criticized again for arresting lawyers and activists who speak against him. One of the biggest human rights groups in El Salvador announced that they had to shut down their office and leave the country because it had become too dangerous. They said the government was using repression to silence voices that disagreed.

What Happens Next?

Now that the Legislative Assembly has approved these changes, it’s likely that President Bukele will run again. If he wins, he could serve for six more years — and maybe keep running after that. Whether this is good or bad depends on who you ask. His supporters believe he is doing what’s best for the country. His critics worry that El Salvador is slowly moving away from democracy.