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President Nayib Bukele’s approval to seek a third consecutive term marks one of the most significant political transformations in El Salvador’s recent history, following a series of constitutional reforms driven by his party, Nuevas Ideas.

Bukele consolidated his power through a legislative supermajority, with 57 of the Legislative Assembly’s 60 seats, giving his government the ability to pass sweeping constitutional and political reforms.

🚨 AWESOME! President Trump is meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele this morning at the White House in the OVAL OFFICE

Bukele is an absolute beacon of Latin America, slashing homicides in his nation by 98%, beautifying his cities and FIRING THE ROGUE JUDGES 🔥

An… pic.twitter.com/khVVZgLTAS

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 16, 2026

The most significant changes include:

Eliminating presidential term limits, allowing indefinite reelection.

Extending the presidential term from five to six years.

Abolishing the presidential runoff system, allowing candidates to win with a simple majority.

Synchronizing presidential, legislative, and municipal elections.

The 2021 overhaul of the judiciary, including the dismissal of Constitutional Chamber justices and the attorney general, followed by a new constitutional interpretation allowing immediate presidential reelection, paved the way for Bukele’s continued hold on power.

Bukele continues to enjoy approval ratings above 80%, largely driven by his aggressive anti-gang security strategy, under which more than 90,000 people have been arrested since the state of emergency was declared in 2022.

También la tienen Canadá, Reino Unido, Alemania, Australia, Nueva Zelanda, Irlanda, Italia, los Países Bajos, Bélgica, Suecia, Noruega, Dinamarca, Finlandia, Islandia, Luxemburgo, Austria, Suiza, y Japón, entre muchos otros países.

Pero la idea es que suene mal 😂 https://t.co/uIC2wTEFNY

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) July 14, 2026

At the same time, national and international human rights organizations have criticized the erosion of judicial independence, the prolonged state of emergency, alleged arbitrary arrests, restrictions on due process, and the growing concentration of power in the executive branch.

Overall, El Salvador’s experience illustrates how strong public support, a legislative supermajority, constitutional reforms, and institutional changes have enabled Bukele to consolidate an unprecedented level of political power, while continuing to fuel debate between supporters who credit him with restoring security and critics who warn about the weakening of democratic checks and balances.

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About The Author Maria Herrera Mellado

María Herrera Mellado es una abogada y analista política muy respetada. Licenciada en Derecho en EE.UU. y España, también tiene un doctorado en Ciencias Jurídicas y varios títulos de la Universidad de Granada (España), de la Universidad de Arizona y de la Florida International University. Con amplia experiencia en derecho internacional, asesoría en inversiones, representación en inmigración, y protección de la privacidad y lucha anticorrupción, ha asesorado a organizaciones y políticos europeos, estadounidenses e hispanoamericanos. Ha escrito sobre seguridad nacional e inmigración, protección de datos, derecho constitucional, consumo financiero y derecho bancario en revistas internacionales y coescribió libros publicados en Perú y Colombia. Es reconocida por su servicio comunitario en EE.UU. y es considerada una de las mujeres más influyentes de Florida. Es experta en varios idiomas y participa frecuentemente en debates en canales como Univisión, Fox, France 24, Telemundo y es la Editora Jefe de Gateway Hispanic.