Nayib Bukele wins overwhelming El Salvador re‑election as US tech investment expands

President Nayib Bukele secured a landslide victory in El Salvador’s presidential election, winning more than 70% of the vote on the first round and set to begin his 2024‑2029 term on 1 June. His Nuevas Ideas party is projected to capture around 58 of the 60 seats in the Legislative Assembly, preserving a qualified majority.

In the weeks following the vote, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Caleb Orr visited El Salvador’s Data Trust, the country’s first Tier‑III certified commercial data centre. Orr highlighted the facility’s AI capabilities and signalled interest in high‑level technology investments, noting that the nation is emerging as a regional hub for digital infrastructure. Parallel talks underscored broader U.S. intent to invest in strategic sectors and advance a reciprocal trade agreement that removed a 10% tariff on Salvadoran goods.

Regional impact is evident as Costa Rica’s new president, Laura Fernández, pledged to adopt Bukele’s security model, including plans for a mega‑prison modeled after El Salvador’s CECOT, aiming to curb organized crime and narcotrafficking. These developments illustrate Bukele’s growing political influence both domestically and across Central America, alongside heightened U.S. economic engagement.