Bukele wins party nomination for third term in El Salvador

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has officially secured his party's nomination, Nuevas Ideas, to run for a third six-year term in the upcoming February 2027 elections. Bukele, who has been in power since 2019, was proclaimed the nominee after winning his party's internal elections, a move facilitated by controversial legal reforms that permit consecutive re-election.

The 44-year-old president enjoys significant popularity, largely attributed to his aggressive war on gangs. Under a state of exception, which international organizations have criticized for alleged human rights violations, Bukele has dismantled groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States. His bid for re-election was further solidified in July 2025 when Congress eliminated the limit on consecutive terms and extended the presidential term from five to six years, also abolishing the runoff election.

These reforms, coupled with a 2021 ruling by the Constitutional Chamber that authorized immediate re-election, have cleared Bukele's path. His current term, shortened to align presidential elections with local ones, will conclude in 2027. Without a strong opposition, the right-wing leader will compete alongside his vice president, Félix Ulloa.

Bukele broke a three-decade bipartisan system in 2019, winning with 53% of the vote, appealing to young voters and those disillusioned with the traditional parties. However, critics label him an autocrat for his firm grip on Congress, the judiciary, and other state institutions. He self-describes as a "cool dictator" and his security model has garnered attention from various right-wing governments across Latin America.