From Rhetoric to Action: Bukele’s Erosion of Democracy in El Salvador

After nearly two decades of democracy, El Salvador’s democratic institutions find themselves, once again, under siege. President Nayib Bukele has achieved extreme popularity, fueled by populist rhetoric and the adept use of social media. In this episode, El Faro journalist Nelson Rauda discusses how Bukele has abused emergency powers, eroded the independence of the judiciary, and paved the way for his re-election in direct violation of El Salvador’s constitution.