Trump White House backs controversial reform clearing Bukele’s path to third term
The US supports El Salvador’s constitutional reform, which gives Bukele the green light, and rejected any comparisons to the Central American country with a dictatorship.
The United States government expressed support on Tuesday for El Salvador’s recent constitutional reform, which allows for indefinite presidential reelection—clearing the way for President Nayib Bukele to seek a third term.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told EFE: “El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly was democratically elected to represent the interests and policies of its constituents. The decision to make constitutional changes is theirs. It is up to the Salvadoran people to determine how their country should be governed.”
The spokesperson also rejected comparisons between El Salvador’s legislative process and authoritarian regimes, emphasizing that the people remain free to choose their leaders through democratic means.
Critics warn the move weakens the rule of law in El Salvador
Although President Bukele has not yet officially announced his candidacy for a third term, several international human rights organizations—including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch—have raised concerns about the constitutional reform that would allow indefinite reelection. Both groups have drawn comparisons between El Salvador and authoritarian regimes in Nicaragua and Venezuela, citing the erosion of democratic institutions, repression of civil society, and the concentration of power in the executive branch.
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