The legislature in El Salvador voted 57-3 to remove presidential term limits from the country’s constitution, sparking concerns of a dictatorship emerging.

“Democracy in El Salvador has died,” according to opposition leader Marcela Villatoro, who is operating in an office which is 90% controlled by President Bukele’s ‘Nuevas Ideas’ party.

The right-wing president, who has referred to himself as “the world’s coolest dictator”, has raised concerns surrounding his authoritarianism for some time now, especially after the mass incarceration of supposed gang members by suspending their rights and expanding the limits of police power.

The changes to the constitution include other tweaks to El Salvador’s elections, including increasing the presidential term from 5 to 6 years, and bringing the upcoming 2029 elections to 2027.

Bukele has been a long-time friend and associate of Donald Trump, housing deported migrants, many of whom arrived in the US legally, from the US in conditions where torture has been alledged. 

This raises concerns for some surrounding how Trump, who has remarked numerous times regarding running for a third term, will act following these changes.

This is just one of many instances of growing moves away from democracy, concentrating power in one or few people, leaving the rest of us without a voice.

Democracy is under attack. Fascism and authoritarianism are on the rise globally.

The status quo has allowed this to happen, and will continue to do so.

We need real change, quickly, if we want to stop it from happening here.