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Bukele Wins Ruling Party Nomination for Third Presidential Term

The party's selection formalizes a campaign that tests recent constitutional changes allowing presidents to seek additional terms.

FILE - El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele speaks at the National Palace as he hosts a meeting with U.S. congresspeople in San Salvador, El Salvador, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez, File)
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele speaks during an inaugural ceremony of the Attorney General's Office's new building in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador, May 19, 2026. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas/File Photo

Overview

  • Nuevas Ideas formally nominated President Nayib Bukele and Vice President Félix Ulloa to run in the February 2027 general election.
  • The nomination came after an uncontested party primary and was announced by Nuevas Ideas on Monday.
  • In July 2025 lawmakers allied with Bukele approved a constitutional amendment that removed reelection limits and extended the presidential term to six years, creating the legal path for this bid.
  • Bukele's sustained popularity stems from a 2022 state of emergency and anti-crime crackdown that sharply cut homicide rates while producing mass arrests and criticism from human rights groups.
  • The February vote is expected to feature a candidate from the FMLN and will serve as a test of El Salvador's institutions and whether voters prioritize security gains over concerns about concentrated executive power.