On Sunday, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele officially pre-registered to run for the 2027 presidential election. His political party, New Idea (NI), is aiming for a third consecutive term following the removal of term limits last year.
“We are ready,” shared Xavier Zabra Bukele, the party leader and cousin of the president, on social media. He included images of the pre-candidacy applications for both Bukele and Vice President Félix Ulloa. In many parts of Latin America, the term “pre-candidacy” refers to the status of individuals before they’re officially nominated by a political party or as the election period begins.
Historically, El Salvador’s constitution prohibited presidents from being re-elected or serving consecutive terms for over a century, necessitating a break from office before any chance of re-election.
When Bukele first took office in 2019, the constitution clearly stated he could not seek re-election immediately. It included a clause that essentially stripped Salvadorans of their rights if they tried to engage in any form of re-election or continuity efforts for the presidency.
However, a controversial ruling from El Salvador’s Supreme Court—led by a chief justice assigned in 2021—allowed Bukele to run again in 2024. This interpretation exploited a legal loophole permitting him to resign on November 30, 2024, just six months shy of completing his term.
Controversially, President Bukele was re-elected in 2024 with significant support from voters. His popularity surged mainly due to his rigorous measures against violent gangs like MS-13 and 18th Street, which has resulted in high approval ratings, standing at about 87.8% as of last week.
His aggressive approach was enabled by extraordinary powers granted during a “state of emergency,” first approved in March 2022 and regularly renewed over time. As it stands now, the state of emergency has been extended for 52 consecutive months, with lawmakers recently approving the latest updates.
The route for a potential third term was solidified when El Salvador’s Congress, dominated by New Idea, voted to change the constitution to eliminate presidential term limits and extend terms from five to six years, allowing Bukele the chance to run multiple times.
As a transitional measure, Bukele’s current term was adjusted from ending in 2029 to concluding in 2027, aligning presidential elections with local government and parliamentary elections. Thus, the next general election is set for February 28, 2027.
While he has not made any remarks on his pre-candidacy registration as of this writing, Bukele has recently used his social media to share updates and videos about rescue operations in light of the recent devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, which resulted in over 1,450 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Vice President Ulloa expressed gratitude on social media, saying, “Thank you Naib, Xavi, and Nuevas Ideas for this new opportunity to continue to contribute to this great project that will transform our country.”
He also commented, “Dreams that have remained unfulfilled for decades and centuries are beginning to become reality. Our wise and patient people understand that and stand with us.”
