Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele Re-elected in Landslide Victory
In a historic moment for El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele has been re-elected for a second term in office by an overwhelming lead. The victory, which Bukele claims has the biggest difference between first and second place in history, has solidified his position as the country’s leader. Standing on the balcony of the National Palace in the capital, Bukele addressed the jubilant crowd, declaring, “The opposition has been pulverised.”
The election results are yet to confirm if Bukele has gained near-total control of the legislative assembly. However, there is no denying that this was a landslide victory and a resounding endorsement of the controversial policies implemented during his first term. One of the crowd’s loudest cheers erupted when Bukele mentioned “the state of exception,” the emergency measures he introduced in March 2022 to combat El Salvador’s gangs. These measures granted draconian powers to the police and military, resulting in significant changes across the nation.
Under Bukele’s security plan, more than 75,000 people have been arrested in less than two years. While critics argue that some of those arrested are innocent, many communities have been liberated from the suffocating grip of gang control. Vilma Abrego, a voter from Quetzaltepeque, shared her experience, stating, “Before we couldn’t move around easily, through fear of being physically hurt. But now we have this president who is governing in the way that God intends.”
President Bukele, after casting his own vote, held a news conference in the capital. When questioned about the legal process surrounding those without gang affiliations who have been unlawfully jailed, Bukele responded with amusement. He compared El Salvador’s situation to that of the UK, asking if all arrests in the UK were of guilty individuals or if innocent ones were also detained. Bukele acknowledged that a few mistakes had been made but highlighted that 7,000 of those arrested had already been released.
Bukele firmly believes that his unique solution is the answer to El Salvador’s long-standing problem of being the murder capital of the world. He argued that previous solutions proposed by Washington, the European Union, and the Organization of American States had failed. According to him, El Salvador’s transformation from the most dangerous place in the world to the safest in the Western Hemisphere is a significant achievement. Bukele emphasized that this feat was accomplished quickly and without civilian casualties.
With his party predicted to secure all but two seats in the National Assembly, Bukele is likely to remain in high spirits. While some refer to this as a “single-party state,” Bukele emphasizes that his party was elected by the people at the ballot box. He intends to use this support to justify his policies during his second term. Bukele’s plans for the nation have garnered popular backing, with supporters arguing that those who oppose him are willfully ignoring the reality faced by impoverished communities in El Salvador.
Despite his overwhelming victory, dissenting voices can still be heard. Franklin Ramos from Quetzaltepeque expressed skepticism about Bukele’s actions during his first term, particularly regarding unjust arrests. Ramos stated, “In a democracy, I’m not sure about all these things the president’s been doing.” He also questioned the decision of the country’s top court to allow Bukele to run for re-election, as back-to-back terms are prohibited by El Salvador’s constitution.
While there are critics, a significant number of Salvadorans vehemently support Bukele and have handed him a victory that many leaders in the Americas can only dream of. As Bukele enters his second term, he has a strong mandate from the people and intends to continue implementing his policies to bring about positive change in El Salvador.