Nayib Bukele administration policies and security impact

In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele has introduced a pilot program to implement artificial intelligence tutors in public schools, a move critics claim overlooks domestic issues such as food insecurity, which affects approximately 41.7% of the population. Meanwhile, in Cuba, rising street violence and crime have led some citizens to express interest in security models similar to those used in El Salvador.

Regarding El Salvador’s security landscape, a new Brazilian documentary titled ‘El Salvador: Cuando el miedo cambió de bando’ is scheduled for release in October 2026. The film explores the administration’s gang crackdown, contrasting official reports of significantly reduced homicide rates with concerns from organizations like Human Rights Watch regarding due process violations and arbitrary detentions. Additionally, economic debates persist as the World Bank projects a 3.2% growth rate for El Salvador in 2026, which critics suggest lags behind regional neighbors and primarily benefits the tourism and construction sectors.

Recent polling data from TResearch, conducted between September 28 and October 2, 2026, indicates that President Bukele has reached a 90% approval rating, an 8.5 percentage point increase from the previous year. The survey shows high public confidence, with 88.9% of respondents believing Bukele ‘has the reins of the country’ and 84% believing the nation is on the right track. However, economic conditions remain a primary concern, identified as the main problem by 48.7% of respondents, followed by health at 12.3% and corruption at 8.1%.

Further electoral developments in El Salvador include confirmation from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal that general elections are scheduled for February 28, 2027, an election in which Bukele is expected to seek a third term.