How Did Nayib Bukele Come To Power?
/The rise into the presidency by Nayib Bukele in El Salvador is one of disillusionment with traditional politics, shrewd manipulation on social networks, and an emerging reformist youth movement. His 2019 presidential victory ended the country's three-decade monopoly on power by two parties and serves to write the beginning of a fresh political chapter in its history. In this article, we will explore how the rise to power began by Bukele, how he gained popularity, and the quantitative measures evidencing his influence.
Nayib Bukele First Gained Attention As A Local Mayor Who Focused On Development And Transparency
He came into notice in 2012 when he won the position of Nuevo Cuscatlán's mayor on the ticket of the FMLN, which is an old guerrilla organization that had transitioned into political party form. His leadership approach was innovative and focused on development and transparency, making him stand out as a modern-day progressive political leader.
He served as mayor of the capital city, San Salvador, in 2015. As mayor, Bukele focused on the construction of infrastructure, urban regeneration, and youth initiatives. He made himself into a national political figure by sending direct messages to the people on social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook. In 2017, he had millions of followers and bypassed intermediary media outlets to address the people directly.
After Leaving The FMLN, Bukele Formed A New Political Party And Challenged The Status Quo
Bukele was pushed out of FMLN in 2017 by internal conflicts which forced him to create his political movement. In 2018, he founded "Nuevas Ideas" (New Ideas), a political party which played the opposition to the establishment.
Short of time to get Nuevas Ideas on the ballot for the 2019 election, Bukele aligned with the minor center-right party GANA (Grand Alliance for National Unity) to contest the presidency. His campaign platform was centered on anti-corruption, security enhancement, and offering digital solutions to governmental inefficiency. He constantly attacked the governing parties, with popular support among youthful voters dissatisfied with El Salvador's stagnant development.
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Data From The 2019 Election Revealed Strong Support From Young Voters And Urban Areas
Bukele was declared the winner of the presidential vote in 2019 by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal with 53% of the first-round vote in an election system that never has a clean sweep. He was particularly favored by 18- to 39-year-old voters who constituted a majority of the electorate. La Prensa Gráfica reported that almost 65% of the city vote and less than 40% of the rural vote went in favor of him.
His online campaign strategy was largely to blame. His 2019 campaign statistics showed more than 80% of engagement from mobile users, and more than 60% of his campaign traffic was from social media sites. These statistics uncovered his dominance online and his capacity to reach citizens in direct channels, particularly youth.
Bukele Secured A Legislative Supermajority In 2021, Strengthening His Hold Over The Country's Political Landscape
Bukele's popularity went on growing even after becoming the president. At the 2021 legislative election, his party Nuevas Ideas, formally registered this time, swept a supermajority in the National Assembly when it captured 56 of the 84 seats. With its partner GANA in the coalition, Bukele secured major dominance over legislation, judiciary nominations, and nationwide reform.
This change enabled him to revive national institutions. One of the key actions was the replacement of judges in the Constitutional Court and the Attorney General, which produced international observer unease but consolidated his internal political grip. His performance was disapproved of by more than 85% of Salvadorans, according to a 2022 Gallup survey, primarily because of his draconian anti-gang policies as well as investments in infrastructure such as the Bitcoin initiative.
Despite Criticism, Bukele’s Popularity Remains High As Crime Rates Continue To Drop Across El Salvador
By 2024, Bukele remained one of the most popular leaders in Latin America. His focus on security through the "Territorial Control Plan" meant that there was a dramatic reduction in homicide rate from 51 per 100,000 people in 2018 to just 2.4 in early 2024 according to official reports. In spite of concerns that some of his reforms are against democratic principles, the reason that he remained popular with the people is the demonstration of an appetite following three decades of political stagnation.
He came into power by being in the right place at the right time and with the right messages and gaining the support of desperate citizens who are seeking real change. His presidency has revolutionized the kind of politics being played out in El Salvador and the figures are far from waning.
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