Salvadoran Legislative Assembly Passes ’Indefinite’ Re-Election Reform, Drawing Comparisons to Chávez Era
El Salvador's Legislative Assembly, dominated by President Nayib Bukele's allies, has approved a controversial constitutional reform permitting unlimited presidential re-election. The move echoes Venezuela's 2009 constitutional changes under Hugo Chávez, raising concerns about democratic backsliding in a nation that has embraced Bitcoin as legal tender.
While Bukele's supporters hail the decision as necessary for continuity in El Salvador's economic transformation, critics warn of authoritarian drift. The reform comes amid Bukele's unprecedented popularity following his crackdown on gang violence and pioneering adoption of cryptocurrency policies.