In a historic move, the Nuevas Ideas party of President Nayib Bukele’s government has approved a constitutional reform to Article 248 of the Political Constitution on April 29. This change will allow for expedited modifications to the Fundamental Charter, which has been in effect since 1983. With a new legislature beginning on May 1, consisting of 95% members from the ruling party, only a simple ratification is needed to make the changes official.
This reform opens up a possibility not previously considered – indefinite re-election for President Bukele. However, the change was not originally on the agenda of the last session of the outgoing legislature. Instead, it was pushed through by parliamentarians loyal to Bukele who interrupted the session and presented it under “proceeding dispensation” to approve it without consultation. This move breaks a key barrier in Salvadoran political law that previously required a more complex process for constitutional reform.
Opposition parties and critics have condemned this sudden change as an abuse of power that removes limits on re-election and paves the way for authoritarianism. However, supporters argue that it adds rigidity to the Constitution and ensures stability in government. The NGO Acción Ciudadana has also criticized this move as removing essential checks and balances in place to protect citizens’ rights.
With this unprecedented change, concerns about democratic norms and checks and balances have been raised in El Salvador. The ruling party now holds significant power over governance and can potentially extend President Bukele’s term indefinitely if they choose to do so. This move has sparked mixed reactions from both domestic audiences and international observers alike, with some seeing it as a dangerous consolidation of power in one leader while others see it as necessary for stability in an unstable country.
The approval of this constitutional reform marks a significant moment in El Salvador’s political history, with implications far beyond just presidential re-election rules. It remains to be seen how this move will shape El Salvador’s future governance and whether its citizens will be able to maintain their rights under such sweeping changes to their constitution.