No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCentral AmericaEl SalvadorEl Salvador's Bukele gets greenlight to run for re-election

El Salvador’s Bukele gets greenlight to run for re-election

El Salvador’s top court Friday said populist President Nayib Bukele would be allowed to run for a second term, despite the country’s constitution prohibiting the head of state from serving two consecutive terms in office.  

The Supreme Court decision will allow Bukele to run for a second term in 2024 — potentially making him the Central American nation’s first president to serve more than five years in office since the 1950s.  

In its ruling, the court said a sitting head of state could seek re-election for a second term as long as they have not “been president during the immediately preceding period”. 

The decision was handed down by judges appointed to El Salvador’s highest court by Bukele in May after the country’s parliament removed several justices critical of the government — a move decried by critics as a “coup d’etat” and one which sparked international condemnation. 

The new judges then reversed a previous decision by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court that ruled the president could not serve more than one consecutive mandate. However, that ruling did allow the head of state to run again in a subsequent election.

Elected in 2019, Bukele enjoys broad support in El Salvador over his promises to fight organised crime and improve security in the violence-wracked country.  

His allies also hold a large majority in the country’s Congress — a situation not seen since a peace deal in 1992 put an end to 12 years of bloody civil war. 

But he has long been accused of authoritarian tendencies. 

Last year, Bukele dispatched troops to the country’s parliament in a bid to pressure lawmakers. 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Nominates Rebeca Grynspan for UN Secretary-General Role

Costa Rica has put forward Rebeca Grynspan as its candidate for United Nations secretary-general, a move that highlights the nation's push for stronger Latin...

Celebrate 128 Years of Costa Rica’s National Theater

The National Theater turns 128 this month, and starting Sunday, October 12, it opens its doors for a week of events that mix music,...

Family Beach Day in Costa Rica Exploring Tidepools and Wildlife

My two sons couldn’t be more different. They look completely different. They act completely differently. They eat different foods. They have different interests. This...

Costa Rican Hotels Warn of Job Risks Amid Drop in Tourists

Hotels across Costa Rica face mounting pressures as tourist numbers dip and a sluggish dollar exchange rate eats into their earnings. From January to...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...

Costa Rica’s Draw Against Honduras Boosts World Cup Hopes

Costa Rica held Honduras to a scoreless draw in their World Cup qualifier last night, picking up a point that keeps their qualification hopes...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica