Bukele designated presidential candidate for third term in El Salvador

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele will seek a third term in office after being designated the presidential candidate for his party, Nuevas Ideas. The upcoming February elections will be contested following a controversial reform that permits indefinite re-election, a change the opposition has decried as the 'death of democracy'.

Bukele, 44, was designated by his party based on primary election results, though specific vote percentages were not immediately available. His path to re-election was cleared in July 2025 when the congress, dominated by Nuevas Ideas, abolished term limits. This followed a 2024 decision by judges aligned with Bukele that allowed his re-election despite constitutional prohibitions.

The reform also extended the presidential term from five to six years and eliminated the second round of voting. Bukele enjoys high popularity, primarily due to his aggressive crackdown on gangs like Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, which has led to historically low crime rates. However, this security-focused approach, implemented under a state of exception since 2022, has drawn criticism from international organizations for alleged human rights violations and restrictions on freedoms. Growing economic demands also present a challenge for the president.