“90% of countries allow indefinite re-election” says Bukele
San Salvador, Aug 3 (EFE).-
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele defended the country’s newly approved constitutional reforms allowing indefinite re-election, arguing that most developed nations permit the practice without controversy.
“90% of developed countries allow indefinite re-election of their head of government, and nobody bats an eye,” Bukele wrote on X. “But when a small and poor country like El Salvador tries the same, suddenly it’s the end of democracy.”
“If El Salvador were to declare itself a parliamentary monarchy with the same rules as the UK, Spain, or Denmark, the outrage would remain,” he added.
On Jul. 31, the Bukele-aligned Legislative Assembly, dominated by the Nuevas Ideas party, passed and ratified sweeping constitutional reforms in a single session, without prior debate or analysis.
The reforms amend Articles 75, 80, 133, 152, and 154 of the Constitution.
The changes clear the way for Bukele to seek a third consecutive term, though he has not officially announced his candidacy.
The reforms also extend the presidential term from five to six years and eliminate the possibility of a second-round vote in presidential elections.
International human rights organizations have strongly criticized the move.
Juanita Goebertus, Americas Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), stated, “Bukele’s Nuevas Ideas party is following the same path as Venezuela by pushing a constitutional reform that allows indefinite re-election.”
The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) also condemned the reform as “a blatant manipulation of El Salvador’s constitution,” warning it enables “unlimited re-elections and six-year presidential terms.”
In a post on X, WOLA added, “This is where years of gradual constitutional manipulation lead: to the dismantling of democracy.”
Locally, the civil society group Acción Ciudadana issued a statement asserting that “permitting indefinite re-election and extending presidential terms does not aim to empower the people or save public funds. Its true goal is to keep the president in power indefinitely.” EFE
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