El Salvador President Nayib Bukele Steps Down to Focus on Re-Election Campaign
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, known for his pro-crypto policies and for spearheading the legislation recognizing Bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender in the country, has stepped down from office to focus on his 2024 re-election campaign. Bukele’s resignation as the President of El Salvador was approved by the country’s Legislative Assembly on December 1, allowing him to take a leave of absence.
The role of the President of El Salvador has been assumed by Acting President Claudia Rodríguez de Guevara, who is expected to serve until June 2024. The next general election in El Salvador is scheduled to take place in February 2024.
However, there have been criticisms about the current state of democracy in El Salvador, with some questioning the legitimacy of an unelected person occupying the office of the President. Héctor Silva, a candidate for the mayor’s office of San Salvador, expressed his concerns, stating, “Current state of democracy in El Salvador: the office of the President of the Republic will be occupied by a person for whom no one has ever voted.”
During his time in office, Bukele gained recognition for his efforts to reduce the high homicide rate in El Salvador. He also championed the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021 and proposed the development of a volcano-powered ‘Bitcoin City’ in the country.
While Bukele’s tenure saw a significant drop in the homicide rate, critics have raised concerns about human rights violations in El Salvador’s approach to combating gang activity. A report from the United Nations human rights office in March highlighted instances of “mass detentions” since 2022, where individuals were mistreated or died while in custody.
Prior to September 2021, El Salvador’s constitution required presidents to wait ten years before running for re-election. However, the Supreme Court of El Salvador ruled at that time that a president may serve two consecutive terms.
As El Salvador moves forward under its new leadership, the impact of Bukele’s pro-crypto policies and the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender will continue to shape the country’s economic landscape.
