Votes being counted in El Salvador, where strongman president’s victory is all but assured
Vote counting is in progress in El Salvador, with President Nayib Bukele anticipated to secure a second term following a significant drop in violent crime.
The 42-year-old leader, who boasts over 70% approval rates, faced scant opposition.
Bukele's regime is credited for aggressive anti-gang measures that slashed the nation's murder rate but has been criticized for high incarceration rates and human rights violations, including the mistreatment of prisoners.
The election is seen as a gauge of the public's willingness to trade freedoms for safety. One citizen remarked on the newfound sense of security for her children, despite acknowledging potential wrongful detentions.
Results are expected by Sunday evening. Bukele equated the mass arrests to a successful cancer treatment for the nation and maintained that the judicial system has freed those wrongfully imprisoned.
A significant victory would empower Bukele to further reshape El Salvador, despite his controversial leadership style and self-styled comparison to dictators. His re-election bid itself defied constitutional limits, facilitated by a supportive newly-installed Supreme Court in 2021.
Regional leaders closely watch the ‘Bukele method’ of mass arrests to combat gang violence, which has gained traction in Latin America. A 2023 Latinobarometro poll indicates many in the region would accept an undemocratic government if it solved major issues.
Bukele's regime is credited for aggressive anti-gang measures that slashed the nation's murder rate but has been criticized for high incarceration rates and human rights violations, including the mistreatment of prisoners.
The election is seen as a gauge of the public's willingness to trade freedoms for safety. One citizen remarked on the newfound sense of security for her children, despite acknowledging potential wrongful detentions.
Results are expected by Sunday evening. Bukele equated the mass arrests to a successful cancer treatment for the nation and maintained that the judicial system has freed those wrongfully imprisoned.
A significant victory would empower Bukele to further reshape El Salvador, despite his controversial leadership style and self-styled comparison to dictators. His re-election bid itself defied constitutional limits, facilitated by a supportive newly-installed Supreme Court in 2021.
Regional leaders closely watch the ‘Bukele method’ of mass arrests to combat gang violence, which has gained traction in Latin America. A 2023 Latinobarometro poll indicates many in the region would accept an undemocratic government if it solved major issues.
