The measure, driven by the ruling party, opens the way for Nayib Bukele to apply without mandate limit and establish changes in the duration of the position and the electoral system.
Madrid, Spain.- La El Salvador Legislative Assembly This July 31 approved a constitutional reform that enables indefinite presidential re -election. The measure was promoted by the official party new ideas, which has a qualified majority in Parliament, and was backed by 57 deputies, while three voted against.
The reform modifies articles 75, 80, 133, 152 and 154 of the Salvadoran Constitution. Among the main changes, the elimination of the limits to the presidential re -election, which will allow the current president, Nayib Bukele, to run again without restriction of periods. In addition, the duration of the presidential mandate of five to six years is extended and the second electoral round is eliminated, allowing the presidency to be defined in a single round by simple majority.
Another of the points included in the reform is the synchronization of the presidential, legislative and municipal elections, which will be held jointly from the year 2027. For this, a transitory provision that cuts the current mandate, which initially ended in 2029 is contemplated.
Official deputies defended the reform as a response to the popular will and a way to strengthen political stability and reduce electoral costs. For their part, opposition legislators denounced the lack of prior debate and alerted about the weakening of the democratic system.
Various human rights organizations, such as Chrystossal and Human Rights WatchThey have expressed concern about the concentration of power in the Executive and the erosion of institutional counterweights in El Salvador.
The entry into force of the reform is immediately scheduled, and marks a structural change in the Salvadoran political system by allowing a president to remain in power indefinitely through successive re -elections.
