El Salvador Approves Sweeping Constitutional Reforms Allowing Indefinite Reelection
El Salvador's assemblies approved major constitutional changes, enabling indefinite presidential reelection and extending the term to six years. Lawmakers and mayors also gain unlimited reelection.
Overview
- El Salvador's Legislative and National Assemblies have approved significant constitutional changes, allowing for indefinite presidential reelection within the country.
- The reforms also extend the presidential term from five to six years, profoundly impacting El Salvador's future electoral cycles and overall governance structure.
- These amendments passed with a strong majority vote of 57 in favor and three opposed, indicating substantial legislative support for the proposed changes.
- Lawmaker Ana Figueroa proposed these constitutional modifications, which additionally grant federal lawmakers and mayors the ability to seek unlimited reelections.
- Marcela Villatoro of the Nationalist Republican Alliance voiced concerns regarding the potential negative impact of indefinite presidential reelection on democratic principles in El Salvador.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the erosion of democratic norms in El Salvador. They highlight President Bukele's consolidation of power through constitutional changes, his previous reelection despite bans, and the role of his party-selected justices. The coverage uses terms like "strongman leader" and points to the potential for "indefinite rule," underscoring concerns about an "autocratic model."
"The change, El País said, was “long-expected but momentous,” and “consolidates an increasingly autocratic model of power."
Semafor"Observers have worried that Bukele had a plan to consolidate power since at least 2021, when a newly elected Congress with a strong governing party majority voted to remove the magistrates of the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court."
ABC News"The party of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele approved constitutional changes in the country's National Assembly on Thursday that will allow indefinite presidential reelection and extend presidential terms to six years."
NPRArticles (13)
FAQ
The reforms allow indefinite presidential reelection, extend the presidential term from five to six years, and grant lawmakers and mayors the ability to seek unlimited reelections.
Lawmaker Ana Figueroa from Bukele's New Ideas Party proposed the constitutional modifications.
The reforms passed with a strong majority, with 57 votes in favor and 3 opposed.
Critics, including Marcela Villatoro of the Nationalist Republican Alliance, expressed concerns that indefinite presidential reelection could negatively impact democratic principles in El Salvador.
The reforms eliminate the second round of elections and allow voters to decide indefinitely how long to support any public official, changing the electoral cycle and governance structure significantly.
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