Bukele, the savior of El Salvador?

In June 2019, a week after the youngest president in modern El Salvadoran history took office and the end of three decades of bipartisanship, Naib Bukele he wrote on his Twitter account: “I’m officially the coolest president in the world”.

The publication followed a wave of congratulations on his dismissal via the social network – now known as

Tired of decades of corruption and ineffectiveness of traditional parties, rising violence and stagnant economySalvadorans saw the then 37-year-old former publicist as a man who finally wanted to make a difference.

But something started to change in February 2020. Earlier that month, Bukele occupied congressional headquarters with heavily armed soldiers and police to pressure lawmakers to approve his candidacy. $109 million loan to combat instabilityshowing that he was willing to go beyond all limits to impose his policies.

“Now I think it is very clear who is in control,” Bukele said as he sat in the chair of the legislature’s president. A crowd awaited him outside, cheering and waving national flags.

Photo: Reuters

The international community criticized the attack and the prestigious British magazine Economist He claimed that the Salvadoran “may be on track to become Latin America’s first millennial dictator.”

This was the first sign flirting with authoritarianism which critics say could intensify over the next five-year term, which Bukele will achieve in Sunday’s presidential elections.

The occupation of Congress was followed by support for the removal of judges and the attorney general by the new Assembly, where it has a supermajority, the introduction of Bitcoin as legal tender, and civil restrictions during a state of emergency to combat the gang.

This latest measure brought him unprecedented support, close to 90%, and ensured that, despite the Constitution prohibiting presidential re-election, Bukele ran without clear opposition. Even the resounding success of his “war” against gangs resonates elsewhere after transforming El Salvador from “the most dangerous country in the world” to one of the safest in America.

“The ability of your model to spread will depend on its success and resistance to such a project. a model as dangerous as it is attractive to millions“Said Mexican political scientist Carlos Perez. “A model based on mass incarceration is simply not sustainable,” he added.

Left or right?

When Bukele worked at the advertising agency of his father, a Palestinian-born chemical engineer, he was in charge of the account of the former guerrilla of the National Liberation Front Farabundo Martí (FMLN), then in power.

He was born there sympathy for the left party which in 2012 saw him become mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán, a forgotten coffee town near San Salvador, which he ruled until 2015.

Seeing himself isolated from media attention and deprived of resources, he used social media to promote his work, such as dramatically reducing murders and donating his salary to fund university scholarships. His good leadership allowed him to rule the capital until 2018.

In San Salvador he soon gained fame for his social and cultural works, such as the revitalization of the historic center and the construction of the municipal library.

In October 2017, he was expelled from the FMLN for allegedly inciting division and violate the party charteraccusations he denies.

Photo: Reuters

In 2019, having failed to consolidate his own New Ideas party, Bukele joined the right-wing Grand Alliance of National Unity (GANA), with which he eventually became president of the country.

During his election campaign he promised to end corruption, but he himself found himself under investigation by prosecutors on suspicion of money laundering and tax evasion during his time as mayor.

“This is a pure image, a pure photo”said Berta Deleon, who was Bukele’s lawyer but split with the president in 2021 after claiming persecution for publicly criticizing him, forcing her to seek asylum in Mexico.

“Therefore, he does not forgive any criticism on social networks, for him this is inviolable and sacred ground,” he added.

Critics also accuse him of nepotism. His brothers, cousins and other relatives held government positions and gave him behind-the-scenes advice. But in El Salvador, even the most critical of poor performance of the local economyhe will be voted on on Sunday.

“Naib is a great manager, we have never had someone who cares about the well-being of the people,” said Eduardo Samayoa, a 36-year-old taxi driver from San Salvador.

With gelled hair, a bushy beard and a fan of sweaters and jeans over suits, Bukele is the eldest of four children of Olga Ortez and Armando Bukele, a Palestinian-born Muslim who helped build some of the first mosques. Latin America. He is married to dancer Gabriela Rodriguez and they have two daughters.

Reuters

Source: Aristegui Noticias

Mary

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