El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is poised to continue his presidency for another five years, following what appears to be a resounding re-election victory over traditional parties in the country. Bukele, who refers to himself as the 'world's coolest dictator' or the 'Philosopher King,' has gained popularity with his unconventional approach to governance and mastery of social media.
During his first term, Bukele consolidated governmental power by making dramatic gestures. In February 2020, he entered the Legislative Assembly accompanied by soldiers armed with rifles after lawmakers refused to approve a security loan proposal. This show of force sent a powerful message, symbolizing his determination to take action. In April of the same year, Bukele ordered police to apprehend violators of stay-at-home orders during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the Supreme Court ruling that this violated the Constitution, Bukele defied the decision and justified his actions by claiming it was necessary to protect public health. Human rights groups later criticized the detentions that continued to take place.
In the following year, Bukele's party gained control of the congress, leading to a purge of the Supreme Court's constitutional chamber, which had ruled against him multiple times. The newly appointed court interpreted the constitution differently, allowing Bukele to seek a second term, despite an apparent ban on consecutive re-elections.
One of Bukele's significant endeavors has been tackling the issue of gang violence in El Salvador. Though he was not the first president to negotiate with the gangs, rumors surfaced that his administration was striking deals with gang leaders in exchange for reducing violence. Bukele vehemently denied these claims. However, a wave of violence on March 26, 2022, with 62 people killed in a single day, forced Bukele to take drastic measures. He acquired special powers, such as making arrests without warrants, denying access to legal representation, and granting broad authority to intercept communications. This marked a shift from secret negotiations to a highly publicized crackdown. Thousands of troops were deployed to surround neighborhoods and make arrests, with Bukele providing daily updates on the number of people apprehended.
Under these extraordinary powers, more than 76,000 individuals have been arrested, although the government has acknowledged that some were wrongly detained and later released. Human rights groups have also documented numerous deaths of individuals inside prisons who had not yet been tried.
Despite critics' concerns about the methods used in the gang crackdown, Bukele argues that neighborhoods have become safer as a result. Small businesses are no longer extorted, job opportunities are available in previously gang-controlled areas, and children can attend school without fear of forced gang recruitment. Bukele contends that those who criticize his approach are essentially defending gangs and ignoring the progress made in creating a safer El Salvador.
In his recent statement following the election, Bukele asserted that El Salvador has transformed from having one of the highest homicide rates in the world a decade ago to becoming one of the safest countries in the Western Hemisphere. He sees this as an opportunity for the country to move forward after enduring decades of suffering.
As Bukele prepares for his second term, many will be closely watching to see whether his unconventional approach to governance yields lasting positive results or if concerns over erosion of democratic institutions and human rights will escalate.
