Rita Dfouni
- El Salvador’s legislature approved indefinite presidential reelection and extended terms to six years, enabling Bukele to stay in power beyond 2029.
- Critics warn the reforms signal democratic backsliding, while Bukele maintains high domestic approval with 78% public support.
- Despite IMF claims, El Salvador’s Bitcoin Office insists the country continues buying 1 BTC per day, with reserves now at 6,255 BTC.
El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly has approved a constitutional reform package allowing indefinite presidential reelection, a move that enables President Nayib Bukele to remain in power well beyond his current term. The reform, passed in a 57–3 vote dominated by Bukele’s New Ideas party, also extends presidential terms from five to six years and eliminates runoff elections. Critics warn the changes mark a significant shift toward authoritarianism and concentrate power in the executive branch.
New Ideas lawmaker Ana Figueroa proposed ending Bukele’s current term two years earlier to synchronize presidential and legislative election cycles. If ratified, Bukele’s term will now end on June 1, 2027, instead of 2029. Figueroa defended the changes by pointing to cost savings, claiming runoff elections cost the state $50 million and those funds could be redirected toward healthcare and education. However, opposition leaders denounced the move as a direct attack on democracy. Nationalist Republican Alliance lawmaker Marcela Villatoro, one of only three to vote against the proposal, called it “the death of democracy,” warning that indefinite reelection fosters corruption, nepotism, and weakens political participation.
Source: The Associated Press
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Bukele faces global scrutiny but maintains popularity and Bitcoin push
First Vice President of the Assembly, Suecy Callejas, defended the reforms, stating that power has been returned to the people. Still, the amendments come amid broader concerns over democratic backsliding. In June, human rights groups raised alarm after the government imprisoned two lawyers critical of Bukele’s administration.
Despite international criticism, Bukele continues to enjoy strong domestic support. A recent survey by the University of El Salvador’s Public Opinion Laboratory found 78% approval of his leadership, while another by Iudop-UCA gave him an 8.15 out of 10 for his sixth year in office.
The constitutional overhaul comes as Bukele’s Bitcoin strategy remains in global focus. While the IMF claims El Salvador has halted its Bitcoin purchases since securing a $1.4 billion loan in December 2024, the country’s Bitcoin Office maintains it continues to buy 1 BTC per day, with 6,255 BTC currently held in national reserves.
