El Salvador has made significant constitutional changes allowing President Nayib Bukele to run for an indefinite number of terms. These changes raise concerns about the state of democracy in the country.
Essence of the Constitutional Changes
El Salvador's legislature has approved a package of five reforms allowing indefinite presidential reelection. The new rules also extend the presidential term from five to six years and eliminate the need for a runoff. Lawmaker Ana Figueroa from the New Ideas party proposed to shorten Bukele's current term by two years to synchronize presidential and congressional elections.
Opposition to the Changes
Opposition lawmakers, such as Marcela Villatoro from the Nationalist Republican Alliance, argue that these changes threaten the country's democratic institutions. Villatoro stated, 'It brings an accumulation of power and weakens democracy.' First Vice President of the Legislative Assembly Suecy Callejas defended the changes, claiming, 'Power has returned to the people.'
Economic and Bitcoin Strategies of El Salvador
The constitutional changes come amid mixed reviews regarding El Salvador's international image and economic policies. The IMF stated that the country has not purchased Bitcoin since signing a $1.4 billion loan deal. However, the country's Bitcoin Office asserts that El Salvador continues to buy one Bitcoin daily.
The constitutional changes in El Salvador attract attention from both supporters and opponents of Bukele. How the political and economic events will evolve in the country will be revealed in the coming months.
