Voters reward Bukele for gang crackdown that has transformed security in central American country
El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, has won a thumping victory in elections after voters cast aside concerns about erosion of democracy to reward him for a fierce gang crackdown that transformed security in the central American country.
Thousands of Bukele’s supporters clad in cyan blue and waving flags thronged San Salvador’s central square to celebrate his re-election, which the 42-year-old leader termed a “referendum” on his government.
Bukele declared himself the winner before official results were announced, claiming to have attained more than 85% of the vote. Provisional results showed Bukele winning 83% support with 31% of the ballots counted.
His New Ideas party is expected to win almost all of the 60 seats in the legislative body, tightening its grip on the country and bestowing Bukele, the most powerful leader in El Salvador’s modern history, with even more sway.
Civil rights are essential but their situation was horrendous.
I just can’t think of a better solution to their situation but I’m not saying there isn’t one. From the scars of their actual civil war in the past, gangs fermented in the USA and then sent back to a small country not equipped to handle them. It’s one of those situations that just got so bad that it’s hard to argue against strong authoritarian moves but what what else could have stopped the killings?
The country certainly needed a timeout from the murders but it needs to come back to normal on civil rights after this big move. Hopefully, these emergency provisions don’t overstay their welcome to keep a select few in power.