El Salvador’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced on Wednesday that the country will hold its presidential election on February 28, 2027. The scheduling clears the path for President Nayib Bukele to pursue a third consecutive term, made possible by constitutional amendments adopted last year that eliminated presidential term limits.
Bukele, who has governed since 2019, secured his party’s nomination through his Nuevas Ideas movement. Should he win re-election, his tenure would extend to 2033, as new rules have increased the presidential term from five to six years.
The 45-year-old leader remains a polarizing figure domestically and across Latin America. Supporters credit him with driving crime to historic lows through a sweeping security campaign launched in 2022. Under a state of exception that remains in effect, authorities have detained approximately 92,000 individuals, predominantly young men, many of whom have been held without formal charges. To address judicial backlogs, courts have increasingly relied on mass trial hearings.
Conversely, human rights organizations have condemned the crackdown, alleging widespread abuses including torture that they argue may amount to crimes against humanity. Bukele has dismissed these accusations and his characterization of his governance style, once referring to himself as the “world’s coolest dictator.”
Opposition is taking shape, with former congresswoman Maytee Iraheta of the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and union leader Rafael Aguirre of the left-wing Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) both declaring their candidacies. Their entries mark a return to multi-party competition in a race that ends the three-decade dual dominance previously shared by ARENA and the FMLN.
Cool dictator indeed. Love the honesty at least, even if the methods are questionable.
I still remember the gangs before 2022. I can walk outside at night safely now. I vote for results.
Six-year terms now? Seems like they are building an empire, not just governing a country.
The security results are undeniable, but what about the human rights concerns? That 92,000 number is alarming.
Interesting how the left and right are finally uniting against Bukele. Makes you wonder if the opposition is strong enough.