El Salvador: Bukele condemns his critics and points out that the vast majority of 'developed' countries allow indefinite reelection
In a post on his X account, Bukele condemned critics, stating that 90% of developed countries allow indefinite reelection of their heads of government without controversy, while in El Salvador, a "small and poor" country, its democracy is questioned.
The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele (Archive).
The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, defended the constitutional amendment approved Thursday by the Legislative Assembly, controlled by his Nuevas Ideas party, which eliminates presidential term limits and abolishes runoff elections, breaking an 1841 precedent.
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El Salvador approves a constitutional reform that allows indefinite reelection and extends presidential terms to six years
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In a post on his X account on Sunday, Bukele condemned critics, claiming that 90% of developed countries allow indefinite re-election of their heads of government without controversy, while in El Salvador, a "small and poor" country, its democracy is questioned. “You’re not supposed to do what they do. You’re supposed to do what you’re told,” he said, denouncing the double standard.
90% of developed countries allow the indefinite reelection of their head of government, and no one bats an eye. But when a small, poor country like El Salvador tries to do the same, suddenly it’s the end of democracy.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) August 3, 2025
Of course, they’ll rush to point out that “a parliamentary…
Bukele, elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2024 with 85% of the vote, owes his popularity to his anti-gang policies. His government has reduced the influence of gangs, allowing citizens to recover public spaces.
Politics
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For its part, the Organization of American States (OAS) certified his 2024 victory as legitimate, although it urged a "profoundly democratic exercise" in the face of his growing power.
Bukele's relationship with Trump
In 2019, during Trump's first term, Bukele signed migration agreements, including a "safe third country" pact, aligning with Trump's policies and strengthening bilateral ties.
In 2025, with Trump back in the White House, Bukele seeks to maintain this alliance. In that regard, the U.S. has an agreement with El Salvador to send illegal immigrants to the Salvadoran mega-prison CECOT.
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