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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent

Opposition leaders say ‘democracy in El Salvador has died’ after scrapping of presidential term limits

a man speaks into a microphone with his hands outstretched
Nayib Bukele speaks in San Salvador on 14 January 2025. Photograph: Salvador Melendez/AP

Activists and opposition leaders have warned that El Salvador is following Venezuela’s path towards dictatorship after the Central American country’s congress scrapped presidential term limits, paving the way for Nayib Bukele to seek indefinite re-election.

“Democracy in El Salvador has died,” opposition congresswoman Marcela Villatoro declared late on Thursday as the legislature – in which Bukele’s Nuevas Ideas party controls 90% of seats – approved the highly controversial constitutional reform, by 57 votes to three.

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