Court drops ban on presidential reelection

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR >> El Salvador’s top court and its election authority have tossed aside what seemed to be a constitutional ban on consecutive presidential reelection, setting the stage for President Nayib Bukele to potentially seek a second term in 2024.

The Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber on Friday told the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to permit a second term, and the electoral authority announced it would accept what it called a ruling that cannot be appealed.

Until now, courts have interpreted El Salvador’s constitution to forbid presidents from seeking reelection for 10 years — equivalent to two fiveyear terms of the National Assembly — after their initial term.

The constitution bars the candidacy of those who have held the presidency for more than six months “during the period immediately before or during the last six months before the beginning of the presidential term.”