Nayib Bukele Secures Party Nomination for 2027 Presidential Election in El Salvador

President Nayib Bukelle of El Salvador has been ratified by the ruling Nuevas Ideas party as its candidate for the February 2027 presidential election, positioning him for a third consecutive term. The candidacy follows a constitutional amendment approved by the legislature in July 2025 that removed the two‑term limit, allowed indefinite re‑election, extended the presidential term from five to six years and eliminated the runoff round.

Bukele faced no opposition in the party primaries; vice‑president Félix Ulloa will run as his running mate. His high popularity stems from a security crackdown that reduced homicide rates dramatically, but human‑rights groups criticize the state of exception, mass arrests and the concentration of power in the executive. The reform was passed by a legislature dominated by Nuevas Ideas, giving Bukele a clear path to potentially remain in office until 2033.

When criticized by the Washington‑based WOLA organization, Bukele replied on X that many other countries also allow indefinite re‑election, listing Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan and others. He argues that the reform was democratically enacted by a super‑majority elected by Salvadoran voters and that the elections have been observed by international monitors.