El Salvador concluded 2024 with a record-low 114 homicides, a dramatic decrease from 2015’s 6,656 and even 2023’s 214. This reduction follows a second year under a state of emergency granting the government extensive powers, leading to over 83,000 arrests. While this has significantly improved public safety and boosted President Bukele’s popularity, concerns remain regarding human rights violations and the continued justification for the state of emergency. The drastic security improvements, however, have undeniably transformed daily life for many Salvadorans.
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El Salvador has garnered significant attention recently due to the election victory of Nayib Bukele, the millennial president who has been labeled the “world’s coolest dictator.” Bukele’s fiery victory speech, in which he boasted that El Salvador would be the first country with “a one-party system in a democracy,” has raised concerns about the country’s democratic future. On one hand, Bukele’s popularity stems from his successful war on gangs, which has greatly improved the safety and security of the country. However, his critics accuse him of stifling the courts and silencing opposition, leading to fears of an authoritarian regime.
It is crucial to understand the context in which Bukele emerged as a popular figure.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker