El Salvador Erodes Democracy, Mirrors Venezuela
Term Limits Abolished, Paving Way for Endless Presidential Rule
El Salvador’s legislature has voted to eliminate presidential term limits, a move critics warn is steering the nation toward dictatorship, drawing parallels with Venezuela’s democratic decline. President Nayib Bukele is now positioned to seek re-election indefinitely.
“Democracy Has Died” Declaration
Opposition congresswoman Marcela Villatoro declared, “Democracy in El Salvador has died,” following the late-night vote. The ruling Nuevas Ideas party, holding 90% of seats, pushed through the constitutional reform with 57 votes in favor and just three against.
La Constitución no es intocable. Lo que debe ser intocable es la VOLUNTAD del pueblo. Y hoy más que nunca el pueblo está en el centro de nuestras decisiones.
— Suecy Callejas (@suecycallejas) May 1, 2024
Villatoro accused her colleagues of delivering a “death blow” to the country’s democratic framework. She cautioned that public celebrations of the decision would eventually turn to regret, echoing concerns about El Salvador’s trajectory mirroring Venezuela’s descent into authoritarianism.
“When all the orders come from one person and everything revolves around one single person, democracy no longer exists. And when you lose democracy … it takes years to get it back.”
—Marcela Villatoro, Congresswoman
Bukele’s Power Grabs
Supporters of the 44-year-old Bukele, who has embraced the moniker “the world’s coolest dictator,” celebrated the reforms. These changes also extend presidential terms from five to six years and advance the next election from 2029 to 2027, eliminating the second round of voting.
Suecy Callejas, a Nuevas Ideas lawmaker, defended the move on social media, stating, “The constitution isn’t untouchable. What should be untouchable is the WILL of the people.”
Bukele, a key ally for Donald Trump in Latin America, was first elected in 2019. His re-election last year was fueled by significant public backing for his aggressive crackdown on gangs, which has drastically reduced homicide rates. This security initiative has led to the imprisonment of an estimated 2% of El Salvador’s adult population, with due process frequently suspended.
International Concerns Rise
Human Rights Watch Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, drew a direct parallel between El Salvador’s actions and Venezuela’s 2009 referendum that allowed for indefinite re-election under President Hugo Chávez. She warned, “It starts with a leader who uses his popularity to concentrate power, and it ends in dictatorship.”
El Salvador is traveling down the same path as Venezuela. It starts with a leader who uses his popularity to concentrate power, and it ends in dictatorship.
This vote to scrap presidential term limits is a grave blow to democracy.https://t.co/L056Vn4e0x
— Juanita Goebertus (@JuanitaGoe) May 1, 2024
In a rare media interaction last year, Bukele had stated he would not seek further re-election, citing constitutional prohibitions and a personal agreement with his wife. However, few observers believe he will adhere to this pledge. Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro, living in exile, lamented, “Welcome to the club of the authoritarian dictatorships of Maduro, [Daniel] Ortega, [Miguel] Díaz Canel.”
