San Salvador - Saba:
Salvador's parliament approved a constitutional amendment on Thursday that removes presidential term limits, allowing incumbent President Nayib Bukele to run for an unlimited number of terms, amid his party's near-absolute control of parliament.
The amendment was passed in an emergency session, with 57 members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favor, compared to only three from the opposition. The decision allows for "unrestricted" reelection, extends the term from five to six years, and eliminates the second round of elections, according to Sputnik.
Bukele, 44, who describes himself as a "gentle dictator," took office in 2019 and was re-elected in 2024 by an overwhelming majority after a Supreme Court ruling allowed him to bypass the constitutional ban on two consecutive terms.
"Thank you, members of parliament, for making history," said Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro of the ruling New Ideas party.
The reforms also included scaling up the dates of legislative, presidential, and municipal elections, shortening the current presidential term by two years, and rescheduling general elections to March 2027 instead of 2029.
Bukele is widely popular domestically for his crackdown on crime gangs, which has reduced violence to historic lows.
It is worth noting that in April 2024, Parliament passed an amendment that removed the requirement to ratify constitutional changes in a subsequent session, facilitating the passage of the current reforms.