El Salvador’s Parliament Removes Presidential Term Limits
The parliament of El Salvador has made significant changes to the constitution, allowing President Naive Bukele to potentially serve an indefinite number of terms. On Thursday, lawmakers voted to eliminate the existing term limits and extend presidential terms from five to six years. This decision opens the door for Bukele, who is currently in his second term and is aligning himself closely with former President Donald Trump, to remain in power for the foreseeable future.
Out of the legislators, 57 voted in favor of this constitutional amendment, as reported by the legislature. Bukele’s New Idea party has a commanding presence in Congress, holding 54 of the 60 seats.
Ana Figueroa, a lawmaker from New Idea who backed the proposal, described the moment as “Historical Days of Our Country,” asserting that citizens have the ultimate power to choose their leaders.
Additionally, the legislature has also decided to remove the second round of presidential elections, where the two candidates with the highest votes would compete against each other. This change is seen as a way to streamline the electoral process.
Bukele first came into power in 2019 and gained popularity among Salvadorans for his tough stance on organized crime, successfully cracking down on gangs like MS-13 and significantly reducing murder rates. He was re-elected in 2024, and his approval ratings have soared, reaching an impressive 85% as of June.
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, Bukele has emerged as a prominent ally in Latin America. After enhancing prison facilities, Bukele proposed that his country serve as a destination for deported criminals, making a commitment to accept MS-13 members who are not in the U.S. This has garnered attention and some controversy.
State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce confirmed that Bukele agreed to accept Salvadoran gang members and violent immigrants from various countries. The Trump administration initially supported this move, leading to a series of deportations from El Salvador.
