El Salvador's ruling party, Nuevas Ideas, has ratified President Nayib Bukele's candidacy for the February 2027 presidential elections, enabling him to pursue a third consecutive term. The party, which holds a significant majority in the legislative assembly, announced the decision on Twitter following its internal elections. Vice President Félix Ulloa is set to be Bukele's running mate once again.
Bukele, 44, first took office in June 2019 and has maintained high approval ratings throughout his presidency. His reelection in February 2024, where he secured nearly 85% of the vote, drew criticism from constitutional scholars who argued it violated a ban on consecutive reelection. Critics allege that Bukele has consolidated power by replacing constitutional court judges and the attorney general.
"Remaining in power is to avoid accountability for grave acts of corruption and crimes against humanity," stated Ingrid Escobar, director of the Salvadoran group Humanitarian Legal Aid, deeming a third term unconstitutional. A September 2021 ruling by the constitutional court had permitted presidential reelection for "one term only."
In July 2025, the legislative assembly, controlled by the ruling party, approved a constitutional reform to allow indefinite presidential reelection. This reform removed penalties for those who promoted reelection and lifted the ban on presidential candidacies for individuals who had served in the previous term. The reform also extended the presidential term from five to six years and moved the election date to 2027. Previously, the constitution allowed a former president to run again after a 10-year hiatus.
Bukele has defended these reforms, asserting that "90% of developed countries allow the indefinite reelection of their head of government and nobody bats an eye." He contrasted this with the criticism El Salvador faces for attempting a similar policy, suggesting it is perceived as "the end of democracy" when a smaller nation adopts it.
Salvadorans largely credit Bukele's security policies, particularly a four-year state of emergency that has led to the imprisonment of over 90,000 individuals, for a dramatic reduction in homicide rates and an increased sense of safety. The country registered a record low of 82 homicides in 2025, a significant decrease from 6,656 murders in 2015. Human rights organizations, however, have reported that more than 500 people have died in prison since the state of emergency began, with causes cited as primarily health-related, though some deaths were linked to violence.