In mid-2025, El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly enacted sweeping constitutional reforms that concentrate executive power, extend presidential terms, and abolish electoral checks, sparking widespread concern about the erosion of democratic institutions, public participation, and human rights safeguards. These changes, passed rapidly and with little to no public consultation, mark a critical juncture for the country’s fragile democracy.
On July 31, 2025, the overwhelmingly pro-government Legislative Assembly approved key constitutional amendments in under six hours, deliberately timed immediately before a national holiday to limit public engagement and scrutiny. The reforms garnered 57 votes in favor, with only 3 dissenters from the opposition. These amendments removed the longstanding presidential term limits, which had existed since 1983, effectively allowing indefinite re-election. In addition, the presidential term was extended from five to six years. Moreover, the reforms synchronized presidential, legislative, and municipal elections by bringing the next general election forward to 2027, thereby shortening the current term by two years. One of the most consequential changes was the elimination of the runoff election system, allowing a president to win office with a simple plurality rather than an absolute majority.
These changes consolidate power in the hands of President Nayib Bukele and his New Ideas party, which has maintained near-total control over the Legislative Assembly since 2021, raising alarms among democracy advocates and human rights defenders alike.
Warnings and Critiques from Human Rights and Democracy Watchdogs
Amnesty International has been a leading voice criticizing the reforms and the manner of their approval. César Marín, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Americas, emphasized,
“The manner in which the Constitution has been modified without proper debate or public consultation… seeks to concentrate power in the executive branch and increases the risk of human rights violations.”
\He highlighted how these fast-track procedures eliminate checks and balances and inhibit public scrutiny. The arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and journalists accompanying these changes serves as a stark indicator of a growing authoritarian trend.
Amnesty International also condemned the broad scope of reforms that undermine fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and judicial independence. Marín added that “the manner in which constitutional reforms are being approved in El Salvador reveals a pattern of authoritarian practices that seek to undermine the conditions necessary for the full enjoyment of human rights.” This critique underscores the wider implications for democratic governance and civil liberties.
Similarly, the Secretary-General of the Community of Democracies criticized the lack of parliamentary debate and meaningful civil society consultation, labeling the reforms a “grave threat to democracy and the separation of powers.” Opposition lawmakers echoed these concerns, with Republican National Alliance member Marcela Villatoro declaring bluntly,
“Democracy has perished in El Salvador.”
This sentiment reflects the widespread alarm that the reforms entrench one-party dominance and hobble democratic governance.
Support and Justifications from the Ruling Party
On the other hand, the ruling party’s leadership celebrated these constitutional changes. Assembly President Ernesto Castro expressed gratitude, stating,
“Thank you for making history,”
reflecting the dominant party’s control over the legislative process and its triumphant narrative about consolidating political control. Lawmaker Ana Figueroa, who proposed the reforms, justified them by framing the amendments as mechanisms to reduce election costs and increase political stability, asserting,
“You possess the power to decide the duration of your support for your president and all elected representatives.”
This positioning frames the reforms as empowerment of the electorate’s choice, while largely ignoring the structural obstacles installed that suppress opposition and curtail political competition.
The Broader Political and Institutional Context
These reforms come within a broader context of institutional erosion in El Salvador. Since 2021, President Bukele’s government has reshaped key democratic institutions by replacing Supreme Court justices with loyalists and altering the Attorney General’s office, thereby undermining judicial independence. The Constitutional Chamber had already interpreted the constitution to permit Bukele’s re-election in 2021 despite existing term limits, setting a precedent that these reforms formalize. The abolition of runoff elections is clearly aimed at easing Bukele’s path to continued electoral success by lowering the threshold to win the presidency, while bringing elections forward shortens the current term and reduces time for opposition organizing and public policy debate.
Institutionally, this redesign effectively transforms El Salvador’s fragile democracy into a form of techno-authoritarianism characterized by centralized executive power and weakened political pluralism.
Impact on Human Rights and Civil Society
Human rights concerns have intensified alongside these constitutional changes. The reforms coincide with escalating repression of dissent. Human rights defenders, journalists, and political critics have faced arrests, harassment, and forced exile. Amnesty International cautions that activists such as Ruth López, Alejandro Henríquez, and José Ángel Pérez are representative of a broader pattern of state repression. César Marín lamented that the reforms were enacted amid “a wave of arrests of human rights defenders and journalists,” reinforcing fears that constitutional amendments will be used as legal cover to justify greater authoritarian measures.
International observers express concern that these sweeping reforms undermine the fundamental right to participate in public affairs—a cornerstone of democratic governance enshrined in international human rights law. The closing of political space for opposition actors and civil society threatens government accountability and transparency, vital components of democratic rule.
Perspectives from Opposition and Civil Society
Opposition voices continue to describe the reforms and their consequences in stark terms. Marcela Villatoro’s assertion that “democracy has perished” encapsulates the fears held by many observers. Legal advocates and civil society organizations argue that the reforms violated principles of transparency, due process, and inclusion. Roxana Cardona, spokesperson for the Movement of Social Justice and Citizen Control, stated,
“A democratic state has been transformed into an autocracy,”
highlighting the transformation of El Salvador into a de facto dictatorship. Human rights lawyer Jayme Magaña warned that suspending term limits and concentrating power weakens the democratic mechanism of alternating executive power—a safeguard that is historically vital in countries with legacies of civil war and authoritarianism.
International Reactions and Geopolitical Implications
The constitutional reforms have attracted international criticism amid growing concern about El Salvador’s democratic backsliding. While Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang policies have reportedly reduced crime rates, these achievements have come at the cost of thousands of arrests often described by observers as arbitrary and lacking due process. By institutionalizing these changes, the reforms risk isolating El Salvador diplomatically if democratic norms continue to erode, although the country’s alliances with sympathetic international actors complicate efforts at external pressure.
Risks and the Urgent Need for Democratic Safeguards
El Salvador’s 2025 constitutional reforms mark a profound shift towards authoritarian rule, systematically undermining public participation, democratic accountability, and essential human rights protections. The rapid and opaque legislative process circumvented standard democratic dialogue and minimized public input, concentrating power in the presidency and diminishing political pluralism. As Amnesty International’s César Marín warns,
“This practice seeks to concentrate power in the executive branch and increases the risk of human rights violations and further reforms without regard to the voices or rights of the population.”
The abolition of term limits and runoff elections, synchronization and extension of terms—all collectively disable democratic mechanisms necessary for political competition and accountability. The opposition and civil society leaders caution that these reforms represent a definitive turning point where democracy has been sacrificed for political domination.
The international human rights and democracy community must continue vigilant advocacy to uphold democratic principles and protect civil liberties in El Salvador. For the country to regain democratic legitimacy, it must restore checks and balances, guarantee open political participation, protect rights defenders, and foster an inclusive civic space—all of which are imperiled by these constitutional reforms.
