Political parties in El Salvador have started their campaigns for the upcoming presidential elections, despite facing criticism from the opposition. The critics argue that President Nayib Bukele plans to run for re-election, which is prohibited by the constitution. On Feb. 4, over 6 million Salvadorans will go to the polls to elect a president and vice president, who serve for five-year terms. Bukele is expected to win re-election, although consecutive terms are forbidden by the constitution. However, the Supreme Court, which includes judges supported by Bukele, ruled in 2021 that a second term was still permissible.
A recent survey conducted by Francisco Gavidia University’s Citizen Studies Center revealed that Bukele, along with his running mate Vice President Felix Ulloa, enjoys the support of 68.4% of voters, while the closest competitors have only 4.3% support. Bukele, who is 42 years old, has gained immense popularity due to his tough stance on crime, which has resulted in improved safety in the country. However, human rights organizations have accused the government of serious human rights violations against those arrested for alleged gang connections. The number of arrested individuals with suspected gang ties has surpassed 73,000 as of Tuesday.
The president has denied the allegations of abuse and has rejected reports claiming that he had engaged in truces with gangs. According to a document obtained by Reuters in September, Salvadoran police estimate that nearly 43,000 individuals associated with gangs are still at large. As a result, El Salvador currently has the highest incarceration rate worldwide.
Reporting on this story is done by Nelson Renteria, with writing by Kylie Madry and editing by Josie Kao.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
