Overview

• Congress voted 57-to-3 on August 1 to amend five constitutional articles, permitting presidents to seek unlimited consecutive terms and extending each term from five to six years.
• A transitory clause will shorten President Nayib Bukele’s current mandate to June 1, 2027, in order to synchronize presidential, legislative and municipal elections.
• The overhaul removes the requirement for a majority-plus-one runoff and establishes a simple plurality as sufficient to win the presidency.
• Only two Arena deputies and one from VAMOS opposed the reforms, reflecting the ruling party’s dominance in the unicameral legislature.
• Opposition lawmakers and rights groups warn the changes consolidate executive power, weaken separation of powers and entrench Bukele’s security-driven governance.