El Salvador’s Crypto-Loving President Could Stay in Power for Decades Following Constitutional Changes
By Matt Novak | Published August 1, 2025
El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly has approved sweeping changes to the nation’s constitution that could allow President Nayib Bukele to remain in power indefinitely. The amendments extend presidential terms from five years to six and abolish previously established term limits. This controversial move positions Bukele — a far-right leader known for his enthusiasm for cryptocurrency and close ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump — to potentially govern El Salvador for decades to come.
Changes to Term Limits and Presidential Tenure
The historic vote on Thursday saw 57 legislators in favor of constitutional reform and only 3 dissenters. The revisions eliminate any restrictions on the number of presidential terms. This marks a significant shift in El Salvador’s political landscape, which had long barred presidents from consecutive re-election. Previously, Bukele’s five-year term, won through elections in 2019 and reaffirmed in 2024 under disputed circumstances, was due to end on June 1, 2029. However, lawmakers from Bukele’s New Ideas Party are already proposing moving up the president’s next re-election date to June 1, 2027, aligning it more closely with congressional elections. The changes thus not only extend each term from five to six years but provide Bukele with virtually unlimited opportunities to compete for office again.
Marcela Villatoro of the Nationalist Republican Alliance, one of the few voices opposing the reforms, warned that removing term limits would “bring an accumulation of power and weaken democracy.” She highlighted risks of “corruption, clientelism, nepotism” and the erosion of political participation that indefinite re-election could provoke.
Bukele’s Rise to Power and Consolidation of Authority
First elected in 2019 on strong promises to crack down on the country’s pervasive gang violence, Nayib Bukele was meant to be constitutionally barred from immediate re-election. Yet the country’s Supreme Court of Justice ruled in 2021 that presidents could run for a second term. Bukele’s party then controversially replaced several Supreme Court magistrates opposed to him — a move that critics say dismantled judicial independence and cleared his path to consolidating power.
Re-elected in 2024 amid allegations of electoral irregularities, Bukele utilized these legal shifts to fortify his hold on the government. His administration enjoys a dominant majority in the Legislative Assembly, enabling the rapid passage of constitutional amendments like this latest reform.
Controversial Governance and Human Rights Concerns
Bukele remains widely popular domestically, largely credited with reducing gang violence, a key campaign promise that propelled him into office. However, investigations by the Salvadoran news outlet El Faro allege a secret 2019 deal between Bukele’s government and gang leaders, involving financial incentives in exchange for dialing down violence. Despite this, Bukele publicly takes credit for a harsh crackdown that has drawn accusations of brutality.
Beyond internal security, Bukele’s relationship with international figures such as Donald Trump — who met with him in the Oval Office in April 2025 — has drawn attention. Trump’s administration controversially coordinated with El Salvador to send migrants, some reportedly detained in harsh conditions including allegations of beatings and sexual assault, fueling criticism of Bukele’s human rights record.
Heavy Investment in Cryptocurrency
Bukele is a vocal supporter of cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, which he has integrated directly into El Salvador’s national economy. The government holds nearly $550 million in bitcoin, representing about 15% of the country’s foreign reserves. This bold investment, especially amid Bitcoin’s notorious price volatility, has sparked concern among economists and international organizations.
To secure a $1.4 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), El Salvador promised to scale back its bitcoin initiatives. Yet reports indicate the government continues acquiring Bitcoin actively, adding over 240 BTC since December 2024 — an expenditure exceeding $27 million at current prices hovering near all-time highs.
El Salvador’s continued bitcoin purchases despite IMF agreements raise questions about regulatory compliance and economic strategy, underscoring the risks of tying a nation’s fiscal health to a volatile digital asset.
With constitutional reforms allowing indefinite re-election and extending presidential terms, Nayib Bukele further cements his grip on power. His blend of authoritarian tendencies, controversial human rights practices, and aggressive cryptocurrency adoption makes El Salvador a focal point of global attention — and concern — as the country’s future political trajectory unfolds.
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