The constitutional modification additionally extends presidential phrases from 5 years to 6 and scraps election run-offs.
El Salvador’s ruling occasion has passed a invoice to overtake how elections are run within the Central American nation, opening the door for President Nayib Bukele to serve one other time period.
On Thursday, 57 Congress members voted in favour and three voted in opposition to a constitutional modification that may enable indefinite presidential re-election, prolong phrases from 5 years to 6 and scrap election run-offs.
Bukele gained a second time period final yr regardless of a transparent prohibition within the nation’s structure. El Salvador’s prime court docket, crammed with Bukele-backed judges, dominated in 2021 that it was the chief’s human proper to run once more.
After his re-election final yr, Bukele informed reporters he “didn’t suppose a constitutional reform can be vital”, however evaded questions on whether or not he would attempt to run for a 3rd time period.
With Thursday’s constitutional reforms, Bukele, who enjoys huge help at dwelling for his heavy-handed marketing campaign in opposition to prison gangs, will have the ability to run once more.
The overhaul will even shorten the president’s present time period to synchronise elections in 2027, as presidential, legislative and municipal elections are at present staggered.
“Thanks for making historical past, fellow deputies,” mentioned Ernesto Castro, the president of the Legislative Meeting from the ruling New Concepts occasion, after counting the votes on Thursday.
‘Democracy has died’
Talking through the parliamentary session, opposition lawmaker Marcela Villatoro from the Republican Nationwide Alliance (ARENA) criticised the proposal being dropped at parliament because the nation begins per week of summer time holidays and mentioned “democracy has died in El Salvador”.
Opposition politician Claudia Ortiz from the Vamos occasion slammed the reform as “an abuse of energy and a caricature of democracy”.
The constitutional reform has additionally drawn sharp criticism from international rights groups.
“The reforms result in a complete imbalance within the democracy that not exists,” Miguel Montenegro, director of NGO the Human Rights Fee of El Salvador, informed the AFP information company.
“The day earlier than trip, with out debate, with out informing the general public, in a single legislative vote, they modified the political system to permit the president to perpetuate himself in energy indefinitely, and we proceed to comply with the well-travelled path of autocrats,” Noah Bullock, govt director of rights group Cristosal, informed the Reuters information company.
The group just lately left El Salvador, declaring itself in exile as a result of Bukele’s drive to consolidate his grip on energy and crack down on critics and humanitarian organisations.