Time magazine decided to attack El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele for investing in Bitcoin. It’s not surprising we all know that mass media want cryptocurrencies to disappear. Mainstream treats people like a bunch of dummies and constantly misleads them. In this case, the author of the article “Why El Salvador’s Bukele Is Doubling Down on […]
Born on 24 July 1981, Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez is not only a renowned Salvadoran businessman but also stands as the 43rd president of El Salvador. His tenure, which began on 1 June 2019, saw him rise as the first Salvadoran president since the time of José Napoleón Duarte (1984–1989) to ascend to power without the backing of the two dominant political parties: the left-leaning Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) and its right-wing counterpart, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
Bukele's political career took off with his service as the mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán between 2012 and 2015. He then took on the mantle as mayor of San Salvador, the heartbeat of the nation, from 2015 to 2018. Interestingly, both victories came under the banner of the FMLN. However, a change of course ensued in 2017 when he was ousted from the party. A year later, he founded the Nuevas Ideas (NI) political party. During the 2019 Salvadoran presidential race, after a brief alliance with the center-left Democratic Change (CD) which dissolved, Bukele opted for the center-right Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) and clinched the presidency with a compelling 53% majority.
One of Bukele's noteworthy achievements as president is the historic drop in El Salvador's homicide rate, which plummeted by over 50% during his initial year at the helm. Bukele attributes this significant reduction to his aggressive strategies, including the deployment of a large number of police and military forces into gang-dominated regions and ramping up prison security. However, the U.S. has raised concerns about possible secret deals between Bukele's administration and the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. His robust anti-gang measures, which have led to the arrest of over 71,000 individuals linked to gangs, has not only drastically suppressed gang activities but has also seen a reduction in homicides by nearly 60% in 2022.
But it isn't just gang-related issues that mark Bukele's presidency. Internationally, he has been a vocal critic of several Latin American leaders like Daniel Ortega, Nicolás Maduro, and Juan Orlando Hernández, categorizing them as "dictators". Domestically, despite facing accusations of authoritarian governance, Bukele enjoys widespread approval among Salvadorans. His controversial decision to send military personnel into the Legislative Assembly in February 2020 was to push for funding to equip the nation's security forces. Moreover, his move to dismiss multiple judiciary members in May 2021 drew sharp rebukes, marking it as a potential setback to democracy.
However, one cannot discuss Bukele's leadership without highlighting his bold economic reform: the adoption of Bitcoin as an official currency in September 2021. This decision, while sparking protests, underscores his innovative approach to governance and economic growth, showcasing his commitment to positioning El Salvador at the forefront of global financial technology trends. His recent declaration to participate in the 2023 general elections has stirred debate, with some experts questioning the constitutional legitimacy of a presidential re-election.
All in all, Nayib Bukele's presidency is an intricate tapestry of innovative economic decisions, aggressive crime prevention strategies, and controversial political maneuvers, making him a central figure in El Salvador's modern political landscape.