Latin American Weekly Report

04/03/2021 - ​Bukele obliterates opposition and reigns supreme in El Salvador

By any yardstick, the result of El Salvador’s legislative elections on 28 February was a remarkable achievement for President Nayib Bukele. Nuevas Ideas (NI), a self-proclaimed non-ideological political movement crafted in his own image, became the first party in the country’s democratic history to win a two-thirds majority in the 84-seat legislative assembly - in its maiden elections. In so doing it shattered the political duopoly of the two rival parties that have dominated domestic politics since the 1992 peace accords. From 1 May, when new deputies take their seats, Bukele will, at a stroke, become the most powerful head of state since the civil war, presenting him with a unique opportunity to advance his political agenda and enact transformative changes to benefit the voters who have placed their faith in him. But Bukele’s plans are as ill-defined as his populist authoritarian traits are clear, raising concern about the concentration of power in his hands.

Download the full briefing to read on...

Access to the full Latin American Weekly Report is one of the benefits of a Canning House Corporate Membership.


Canning House Individual Members receive LatinWeek with their weekly newsletter.

Learn more and become a member today.

More recent briefings & intelligence

Becoming a member at Canning House

By joining Canning House, you will become part of the UK's leading forum for informed comment, contacts and debate on Latin American politics, economics and business.

Just £50 per year.

Join now

Learn more

Sign up to our newsletter

All of Canning House's activities, including our upcoming events, insightful publications, latest news, and featured events from the UK-Latin America community.

In your inbox, every week, for free.

Required
Required
Required