TLDR
El Salvador’s Assembly approved indefinite reelection in a 57–3 vote.
Presidential terms are now six years instead of five.
Runoff elections are eliminated to reduce costs.
Bukele remains popular with over 78% domestic approval rating.
El Salvador Legislative Assembly passed constitutional reforms enabling indefinite presidential reelection and lengthening presidential terms. The changes passed in a 57–3 vote, driven by President Nayib Bukele’s New Ideas party and its allies.
The reforms eliminate runoff elections and extend the presidential term from five years to six. These changes allow Bukele to seek re-election without term limits and remain in office beyond 2029 if re-elected.
Legislative Vote Approves Sweeping Constitutional Changes in El Salvador
The Legislative Assembly approved five reforms affecting the country’s electoral structure. The most prominent changes include removing term limits, extending the presidential term by one year, and eliminating runoff voting.
New Ideas lawmaker Ana Figueroa proposed aligning presidential and congressional elections by ending Bukele’s current term two years earlier, on June 1, 2027, rather than June 1, 2029. “Each runoff election costs the state approximately $50 million. With those resources, we can build a new hospital and more schools,” said Figueroa.
Suecy Callejas, vice president of the Legislative Assembly and member of the New Ideas party, defended the reforms.
“Power has returned to the only place that it truly belongs… to the Salvadoran people,” she said.
Critics Warn of Concentration of Power and Threats to Democracy
Opposition lawmakers and civic groups raised concerns about the potential weakening of democratic systems. Marcela Villatoro, a lawmaker from the Nationalist Republican Alliance, was among the few who voted against the reforms.
“You don’t realize what indefinite reelection brings: It brings an accumulation of power and weakens democracy,” Villatoro said. She also warned about corruption and nepotism increasing as executive power expands.
The reforms come amid international concerns over democratic backsliding. In June, Bukele’s government faced scrutiny for detaining a lawyer critical of the administration and sentencing another human rights lawyer to six months in jail pending trial.
Bukele Retains High Popularity Despite International Scrutiny
Despite growing concerns abroad, President Bukele remains popular among Salvadorans. According to the University of El Salvador’s Public Opinion Laboratory, over 78% of respondents approve of Bukele’s performance during the first year of his second term.
Another poll by Iudop-UCA rated Bukele’s sixth year in office at 8.15 out of 10. These ratings reflect continued domestic support, especially after his anti-gang campaign and public safety initiatives.
El Salvador Bitcoin Strategy Remains Controversial Amid Global Deals
The constitutional changes occurred as El Salvador continues its high-profile use of Bitcoin. A recent IMF report stated that the government had not purchased Bitcoin since agreeing to scale back crypto investments as part of a $1.4 billion loan deal signed in December 2024.
However, El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office claimed otherwise. They reported a daily purchase of one Bitcoin and a recent acquisition of 240 BTC after the IMF deal. The government currently holds 6,255.18 BTC, with 31 BTC added in the last month.
El Salvador also signed a memorandum with Bolivia’s top bank to support Bolivia’s crypto infrastructure and improve regulatory frameworks.
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