STORY: Salvadorans reacted with polarized opinions on Friday (August 1), after the ruling party passed a bill opening the door for President Nayib Bukele to serve another term.

Bukele won a second term last year despite a clear prohibition in the country's constitution. El Salvador's top court, filled with Bukele-backed judges, ruled in 2021 that it was the leader's human right to run again.

The constitutional amendment passed on Thursday (July 31) by Bukele's New Ideas party, which dominates Congress, will allow indefinite presidential re-election, extend terms from five years to six, and scrap run-offs.

Residents of the capital city interviewed by Reuters expressed opinions both for and against the measure, citing arguments such as the work done by President Bukele and the concentration of power in his hands.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR (AUGUST 1, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. RESIDENT BUYING NEWSPAPER

2. NEWSPAPERS’ FRONT PAGES

3. VARIOUS OF RESIDENT ON MOTORCYCLE BUYING NEWSPAPER

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ANALYST, BESSY RIOS, SAYING:

“People aren’t concerned about what the politicians are doing. They’re worried that they don’t have enough money, and to this we add a scattered opposition—an opposition without talent, without leadership, not very trustworthy and not very credible. (President Nayib) Bukele is in the best of all worlds. The president has gradually implemented reforms that would ultimately consolidate the power he already had.”

5. NEWS VENDOR IN STREET

6. VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS' FRONT PAGES

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR OPPOSITION PARTY ARENA, MARCELA VILLATORO, SAYING:

“It’s a setback for democracy; it’s wanting to change the rules of the game for the benefit of one person. In the end, what he wants is to concentrate all the power. He already has the different branches of the State under his control, he already has the Supreme Court of Justice under his control, and that prevents any citizen who is against the government from being able to exercise their rights.”

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN STREETS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, GERBER NIETO, SAYING:

“Well, what can we do? if nowadays they just do what the government says, not what the people say. The population has no freedom, no voice or vote. The deputies just do whatever they want, not what the people want.”

10. MARKET FAÇADE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, ARACELI FUENTES, SAYING:

“You know, in a way yes, because the things he’s doing are good. For me, it’s fine, and if the people support him and we agree, then he should continue.”

12. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN STREETS