The presidential election in El Salvador is being closely watched by experts as a choice between security and democracy. Nayib Bukele has a high approval rating with little competition, making it likely for him to secure a second term as president, despite the constitutional prohibition on reelection. According to a January poll from the University of Central America, about eight out of 10 voters support Bukele. However, critics argue that Bukele’s actions during his first term have eroded the country’s system of checks and balances.
The administration has conducted a massive crackdown on gangs, resulting in the arrest of over 76,000 people. Although these arrests have been criticized for lacking due process, many Salvadorans have welcomed the reclaiming of their neighborhoods from gang control.
José Dionisio Serrano, a soccer teacher from Mejicanos, expressed pride in being the first person in line to vote for Bukele and his party, New Ideas. He emphasized the need for ongoing transformation and improvement in the country, recalling the tough periods he had lived through. He also dismissed concerns about Bukele seeking reelection despite the constitutional ban, stating that the voters want something different.
Moisés Zaldivar, a first-time voter, showed support for Bukele’s New Ideas party, noting that it represents a change that he has never seen before. The traditional parties in El Salvador, both left and right, have been discredited due to their corruption and inefficiency, and their presidential candidates are polling in the low single digits.
Bukele, known as the “world’s coolest dictator,” has received widespread recognition for his tough stance on gangs, resulting in a significant decrease in violence in a country that was once considered one of the most dangerous in the world. While his administration faces accusations of human rights abuses, many voters like Marleny Mena are willing to overlook concerns about undemocratic practices in favor of the improved security situation.
However, not all voters are in support of Bukele. Reinaldo Duarte expressed his intention to vote for the FMLN as a way to oppose Bukele, citing concerns about the stalled economy and lack of transparency in the government’s handling of public funds and gang issues.
In the lead-up to the election, Bukele opted for a heavy social media and television presence rather than public campaign appearances. He emphasized the risk to the war on gangs if his party does not win the election this year, positioning the opposition as a threat to the progress made in addressing gang violence.
Despite his popularity in El Salvador, Bukele and his party are seen as a case study for the global rise in authoritarianism, garnering criticism for the erosion of democratic principles and human rights.
(Associated Press writer Marcos Alemán contributed to this report from Santa Tecla, El Salvador.)
