El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele faces criticism over authoritarian rule

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has implemented a state of emergency to combat gang violence, which has resulted in the country’s highest imprisonment rate and the suspension of constitutional rights. On Saturday, March 26, 2022, 62 people were killed across El Salvador, with the death toll rising to 87 by Sunday.

The killings were carried out by members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a gang that had received a message from Bukele’s government. In response, parliament granted his request for a state of emergency, allowing for indefinite detention of suspected gang members, including children. Over 10,000 alleged gang affiliates were rounded up in just over two weeks.

By 2026, approximately 1.9 percent of the population was being held in confinement, surpassing the world’s highest imprisonment rate. A legal study has raised concerns about human rights violations, with thousands of innocent civilians caught in the dragnet.

Bukele’s government has also faced criticism for its handling of journalists and civil society members, who have been arrested, forced into exile, or intimidated into silence. Presidential term limits were abolished under Bukele’s rule, allowing him to be re-elected multiple times.

According to an opinion poll conducted in January 2022, Bukele’s approval rating was 92 percent. Many Salvadorans believe that the country has become safer since Bukele took office, with some even expressing gratitude for the government’s efforts.

However, others have raised concerns about the erosion of human rights and the concentration of power under Bukele’s rule. A high-profile lawyer, Bertha de Leon, described Bukele as “not a sensible guy who studies, reads, prepares, or is interested in understanding the country’s problems and finding solutions.”

The situation in El Salvador remains complex, with both supporters and critics of Bukele’s government presenting their views on the matter.

Source: Al Jazeera