Posted on 08/01/2025 7:21:32 AM PDT by BenLurkin
El Salvador's congress has approved constitutional reforms to abolish presidential term limits, allowing President Nayib Bukele to run an unlimited number of times.
The reform, reviewed under an expedited procedure, will also extend term times to from five to six years, while the next election will be brought forward to 2027.
Mr Bukele, who has been president of the Central American nation since 2019, is a polarising figure. His major crackdown on crime has proved popular among voters, but human rights groups say thousands have been arbitrarily arrested.
"Today, democracy has died in El Salvador," said Marcela Villatoro, an MP with the opposition Republican National Alliance (Arena).
The reform was adopted by Bukele's 57 supporters in the Legislative Assembly, and voted against by only three opposition members. Critics say the move will entrench one-party rule in the country.
"Thank you for making history, fellow deputies," said the president of the Legislative Assembly, Ernesto Castro, from the ruling New Ideas party, after counting the votes.
Bukele, 44, won a second term last year despite a clear prohibition in the country's constitution.
El Salvador's top court, which is filled with Bukele-backed judges, ruled in 2021 that it was the leader's human right to run again.
The overhaul will also shorten the president's current term by two years, to synchronize elections in 2027, as presidential, legislative and municipal elections are currently staggered.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
INB4 someone yells DICTATOR!
....but our sacred democracy?
I guess people are so happy they don’t live in fear of their lives from gang shootings anymore.
No term limits on senators, Congress critters, SCOTUS, district judges. But POTUS is term limited? Illogical at best.
Stupid BBC Brits and their ruler/subject mentality. It is not that he can “rule” indefinitely. Bukele “governs”, “holds office:”, “remains in office”, “can be reelected”.
By the way Brit azzwipes... how long can a Brit Prime Minister “rule”. Oh that’s right, there IS no limit.
Highly divisive.
Because the gangsters don’t like how effective he is.
SMART - Going to be tougher of the US Leftists to push him out of power.
No need to yell it.
Noooooooo!!!
This is where you go from hero to zero.
Bukele has accomplished the impossible. He is well and deservingly respected around the world for his accomplishments despite a liberal media which will hate him for being a devout Christian and conservative no matter what he does.
But if he moves in this direction, his legacy will be one of a dictator, not a hero that rebuilt a nation.
Don’t do it no matter how tempting it is!!!
Be a George Washington, not a Saddam Hussein.
THIS GUY is the REAL WINNER people should be rooting for, apparently.
Having no term limits may seem like a good idea at the moment, but I guarantee you, it will eventually bite them on the butt.
Term limits were implied for Congress, by the founding fathers. Unfortunately, they somehow underestimated the depths to which our society would sink.
I hope this is a political theater.
I hope this is where Bukele comes out and says, “no no, I’ll go when my constitutional time is up.”
That would really cement his legacy as a good guy, and a little show is ok. All politicians have to put on a show to some extent.
When term limits for the presidency became law, the current president (Harry Truman) was grandfathered in. Truman could have run for more terms had he wished.
That’s the way it must be done for Congressional term limits. You will get the support of current members only if you grandfather them in.
Then it becomes quite doable.
Cuts both ways. Some are too good to replace. Some serve past their sell by date-think Biden. Some you can’t gamble with potential replacements-think Senators Johnson and Collins for different reasons. Buelke too.
I would think term limits would hurt democrats more. They live for this $hit. Let them fight amongst themselves every 2 years. More entertaining too.
What is the current term limit for US Senators and House members?
U could do worse
Making El Salvador Great Again.
I wish El Presidente the best of luck in his endeavors.
Obama was so bad that I honestly expected the New York Times to call for him to be declared president for life.
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