El Salvador's vibrant leader sparks international concern with new constitutional reform

El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly’s overnight approval of a constitutional reform removing presidential term limits sparked concerns of being a step toward authoritarianism—potentially opening the door for President Nayib Bukele to remain in power indefinitely.

The Turkish Daily Sabah presents its view that this move is part of a broader pattern, long anticipated by critics of Bukele, who refer to him by his own nickname, the "world's coolest dictator." These critics argue that his administration has gradually eroded democratic institutions, silenced opposition, and centralised power in the executive branch.

The young leader of Christian Palestinian origin, known for his ironic and provocative presence on social media, has remained silent about the reform. His administration reportedly did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

"This isn’t unexpected—but that doesn’t make it any less serious," said Claudia Ortiz, one of the few opposition lawmakers left in El Salvador. The article quotes Ortiz as saying the reform will lead to "more concentration of power, more risk of abuse of the rights of Salvadorans … and the complete dismantling of all democratic checks and balances."

The reform was passed on July 31 by Bukele’s New Ideas party and its allies, leveraging their congressional supermajority. The article frames this process as rushed and lacking in meaningful public debate.

Damian Merlo, a US consultant and lobbyist working with Bukele’s administration, defended the changes. As quoted in the article, Merlo pointed out that many European democracies do not have term limits, and emphasised that the reform only gives voters the option to reelect Bukele. “It’s up to the people to decide who the leader will be,” he said, asserting that “this move represents the will of the people of El Salvador.”

Nonetheless, the article maintains a critical tone, presenting Bukele’s rise and consolidation of power as troubling. It notes that since his election in 2019, Bukele has distanced himself from traditional political parties, building popularity through promises to combat gang violence and corruption.

While crime statistics, such as falling homicide rates, have bolstered his image, the author suggests these successes may have come at the cost of democratic norms.

In the view expressed, many of the actions Bukele frames as anti-corruption efforts are in fact mechanisms to concentrate power and suppress dissent. The article points to escalating repression, including high-profile arrests and the exodus of over 100 lawyers, journalists, and civil society leaders into exile.

The author also connects Bukele’s domestic crackdown to his alignment with US President Donald Trump, claiming the Salvadoran leader has been emboldened by this new alliance.

Civil society leaders in El Salvador, according to the piece, see the constitutional amendment as a breaking point—a final blow to one of the country's remaining democratic constraints.

By Nazrin Sadigova