El Salvador’s Congress clears hurdle to speed constitutional reforms
Associated PressFEB 1
El Salvador Ratifies Amendment to Speed Constitutional Reforms
Above: Salvadoran Pres. Nayib Bukele speaks during a press conference at the Presidential House in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Jan. 14, 2025. Image copyright: Juan Carlos/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
El Salvador's Congress ratified in a 57-3 vote on Wednesday a constitutional reform that further expedites the constitutional reform process, which was first approved last April by the previous legislature.
This comes as Pres. Nayib Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party won a supermajority of 54 out of 60 seats in the unicameral Congress last year, and the president himself won a second term by a landslide.
Under the amendment, constitutional reforms — which once had to be approved by a majority in one legislature and ratified in the next chamber following elections — can pass in a single legislature if they secure a three-quarters approval.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This unconstitutional constitutional amendment has bypassed parliamentary procedures, Supreme Court rulings, and constitutional requirements to further consolidate the authoritarian regime of Nayib Bukele. In the Salvadoran nearly single-party system, opens the door for express changes at the will of his Nuevas Ideas party.
Establishment-critical narrative
This amendment represents a decisive step towards the elimination of political debt — the use of taxpayers' money to finance political party — in El Salvador, as Bukele and his Nuevas Ideas promised to the nation. It's great news that public funds will now be used more efficiently.
Metaculus Prediction
Articles on this story
Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up!
Sign Up Now!