Politics
• Analysis
El Salvador election 2027 date set for February as Bukele seeks third term
The electoral tribunal announced that the El Salvador election 2027 will take place on February 28, with President Nayib Bukele seeking a third term following constitutional changes.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 1, 2026
• 2 Min Read
The electoral tribunal announced Wednesday that the El Salvador election 2027 will occur on February 28, 2027. President Nayib Bukele seeks a third term after the nation amended its constitution to abolish term limits. The 45-year-old, in power since 2019, is considered a hero to many in his homeland. His initial victory ended three decades of alternating power between ARENA and the FMLN.
The Nuevas Ideas party nominated Bukele for a third six-year term under new rules extending presidential terms, potentially keeping him in office until 2033.
Ongoing State of Exception
A state of exception declared by Bukele in 2022 remains active, resulting in the arrest of approximately 92,000 individuals. The ongoing security measures have produced several major developments:
- •Around 92,000 people, mostly young men, have been arrested and held, many without formal charges.
- •The judiciary initiated mass trials to process the legal backlog created by the mass arrests.
- •Non-governmental organizations accuse the government of widespread human rights violations, including torture, which they argue might amount to crimes against humanity.
Opposition Challenges and Presidential Response
President Nayib Bukele dismissed authoritarianism accusations, calling himself the
"world's coolest dictator."
Former Nationalist Republican Alliance congresswoman Maytee Iraheta and Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front union leader Rafael Aguirre have formally announced their intentions to challenge Bukele in the upcoming vote.
