Nayib Bukele was sworn in for his second consecutive presidential term in El Salvador on Saturday, with almost absolute power and no political opposition. He spoke to the people from the balcony of the National Palace, boasting about how he had cured the country of gangs and now it was time to fix the economy.
Bukele began his new mandate dressed in a suit with a gold collar and cuffs, having been sworn in by show of hands at the National Palace. Thousands of supporters gathered outside, cheering as he took the oath under an intense sun. The day was marked by a military parade and the arrival of foreign dignitaries such as King Felipe VI of Spain and presidents Daniel Noboa of Ecuador and Santiago Peña of Paraguay.
Despite criticism from human rights groups for deaths and torture among detained alleged gang members, Bukele remains confident in his ability to maintain security and achieve economic prosperity for El Salvador. He has already won re-election with almost absolute power, after crushing opposition parties and winning 85% of votes in February elections. He has also obtained a large majority in Congress, winning 54 out of 60 seats.
Bukele is widely regarded as one of the most popular presidents in Latin America according to NGO Latinobarómetro. He came to power in 2019 promising to subdue gang violence but has faced criticism for using an emergency regime that has resulted in over 80,300 alleged gang members being detained without trial. There have been allegations of human rights abuses against these detainees, including deaths and torture. However, Bukele remains unphased by these criticisms and continues to push forward with his plans for economic development.
