El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele Sees Overwhelming Victory Amid Election Controversy

In El Salvador's presidential election, President Nayib Bukele appears poised for a landslide victory with over 70% of the votes counted, according to preliminary results from the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE). Bukele's party, Nueva Ideas, leads significantly, securing 1,662,313 votes compared to the runner-up FMLN's 139,025 votes.

The election results were widely anticipated in a country where Bukele's popularity soared due to his stringent measures against gangs, successfully reducing violence levels. Despite the opposition's limited organization, the election faced controversy as the electronic transmission of results stopped updating overnight. The federal election authority mandated manual recording of results from polling stations, citing actions that hindered the transmission and other factors beyond its control.

Bukele declared victory on Sunday, claiming a record-breaking mandate. The president, who enjoys one of the highest favorability ratings in the region, faced minimal organized opposition. His crackdown on criminal gangs under a state of emergency reversed El Salvador's once-highest murder rate globally. However, human rights groups criticized mass arrests, alleging the detention of innocent individuals and dehumanizing conditions in prisons.

The election became a broader referendum on the trade-off between basic liberties and relative peace, highlighting the public's willingness to support Bukele's state of exception. A victory for Bukele would likely grant him more freedom to implement his vision, which has been criticized for autocratic tendencies.

El Salvador's economic challenges, including stagnation, low growth rates, and a lack of job opportunities, persist under Bukele's leadership. Foreign direct investment has not risen in line with improved security, as concerns about "decreasing legal certainty" and an autocratic shift deter potential investors. Despite economic shortcomings, Bukele's overwhelming electoral support sets the stage for his second term, following controversial changes to the Supreme Court that enabled his reelection.