Key facts
- El Salvador President Nayib Bukele registered to seek his party's nomination for the 2027 presidential election.
- Bukele is pursuing a third term after allies in Congress changed the constitution to allow indefinite re-election.
- Vice President Felix Ulloa also registered to seek another term.
- Lawmakers approved indefinite presidential re-election, removing constitutional restrictions.
- If elected, Bukele would remain in office until 2033.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has registered to seek his party's nomination for the 2027 presidential election, pursuing a third term after allies in Congress changed the constitution to allow indefinite re-election. The head of the ruling Nuevas Ideas party, Xavi Zablah, confirmed the registration on Sunday.
Bukele, who first took office in 2019, is currently serving his second term. Legal changes had previously cleared the way for his re-election. Vice President Felix Ulloa also registered to seek another term alongside Bukele. Both are expected to face no challengers in the party's July 12 primary.
El Salvador's general election is scheduled for February 2027. Last July, allies of the ruling party in Congress approved a constitutional amendment that shortened Bukele's current term, which began in 2024, and allowed him to run again for a new six-year term starting in June 2027. In the same vote, lawmakers approved indefinite presidential re-election, removing previous constitutional restrictions.
Bukele, who turns 45 in July, remains highly popular, largely due to a state of emergency implemented in 2022 that has significantly reduced homicides. If elected, he would remain in office until 2033.