El Salvador's Nayib Bukele files candidacy for 2027 third term

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador formally registered his precandidacy for the 2027 presidential election, seeking a third consecutive term. The bid follows a 2025 constitutional reform that removed the ban on indefinite re‑election and extended the presidential term from five to six years, allowing Bukele to remain in office until 2033 if re‑elected.

Bukele’s party, Nuevas Ideas, dominates the Legislative Assembly and approved the reforms without prior debate. Vice‑president Félix Ulloa also submitted his registration to run for a third term. Recent polls show Bukele enjoys high popularity—roughly 70‑80% approval—largely credited to a sharp drop in homicide rates, though critics warn of growing authoritarianism, arbitrary detentions and curtailed freedoms. The development is being watched by investors for its implications on political stability and sovereign risk in the region.