Latin America
Related: About this forumOpposition leaders say 'democracy in El Salvador has died' after scrapping of presidential term limits
Source: The Guardian
Opposition leaders say democracy in El Salvador has died after scrapping of presidential term limits
Legislation allows rightwing president Nayib Bukele to seek unlimited terms, sparking fears of dictatorship
Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent
Fri 1 Aug 2025 14.45 BST
Last modified on Fri 1 Aug 2025 14.47 BST
Activists and opposition leaders have that warned El Salvador is following Venezuelas path towards dictatorship after the Central American countrys congress scrapped presidential term limits, paving the way for Nayib Bukele to seek indefinite re-election.
Democracy in El Salvador has died, opposition congresswoman Marcela Villatoro declared late on Thursday as the legislature in which Bukeles Nuevas Ideas party controls 90% of seats approved the highly controversial constitutional reform, by 57 votes to three.
Villatoro accused fellow lawmakers of dealing a death blow to the countrys democratic system during the late-night session. Today some people applaud this. Tomorrow they will regret it, she said, comparing El Salvadors slide into authoritarianism to the collapse of Venezuelas democracy.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/el-salvador-bukele-presidential-term-limits

DBoon
(24,185 posts)On August 6 [2024], a new group in the U.S. House of Representatives, the El Salvador Caucus, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting that the State Department remove the elevated travel advisory status for El Salvador, its first official correspondence aimed at influencing U.S. policy towards El Salvador. The caucusformally announced on July 8 by Florida Republican and vocal Trump supporter Representative Matt Gaetz, who co-chairs the caucus alongside Texas Democrat Vicente Gonzalezemerged as increasing numbers of international headlines report on widespread human rights violations under Salvadoran President Nayib Bukeles militarized state of exception, which has suspended many basic civil liberties nationwide for over two years in a so-called war against gangs.
Like other congressional caucuses, the El Salvador Caucus has no authority within Congress other than to advance a common interest. The caucus stated mission is to promote a better understanding of issues related to the United States relationship with El Salvador, our mutual interests and the interests of the United States. In Gaetzs words, however, The El Salvador Caucus will exist to encourage the strong reforms that President Bukele has put into effect and vindicate the choices President Bukele has made. The caucus early actions and Gaetzs statements suggest the groups role is not only to boost the image of Bukele but also to drive the agenda of the Bukele government within the United States.
My bolding
Judi Lynn
(163,859 posts)US fascists have been drooling over Bukele's governing style since they learned how monstrous his police are required to be in the treatment of young Salvadoran men they hunt down everywhere and imprison.