Nayib Bukele is the President of El Salvador, having served since June 1, 2019. Here's an overview of his background and presidency:
### Early Life and Career:
- **Birth**: Born on July 24, 1981, in San Salvador, El Salvador.
- **Family**: Son of Olga Ortez de Bukele and Armando Bukele Kattán, a businessman of Palestinian descent who converted to Islam and became an imam.
- **Education**: Attended the Central American University but did not complete his law degree, instead focusing on the family business.
- **Business**: Before entering politics, he established an advertising company and worked in the family's public relations firm, which had ties to the FMLN (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front).
### Political Journey:
- **Mayoral Roles**:
- Elected mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán in 2012.
- Became mayor of San Salvador in 2015, where he gained national recognition for urban development projects.
- **Party Affiliations**:
- Initially a member of the FMLN, he was expelled in 2017 for alleged misconduct.
- Founded his political party, Nuevas Ideas, but ran for president under the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) due to legal issues with his party's registration.
### Presidency:
- **Election**: Won the presidency in 2019 with about 53% of the vote, breaking the duopoly of ARENA and FMLN.
- **Re-election**: Re-elected in 2024 with an overwhelming majority, approximately 84.65% of the vote, despite constitutional prohibitions against immediate re-election, which were circumvented through a controversial Supreme Court ruling.
### Key Policies and Actions:
- **Security**:
- Implemented the "Territorial Control Plan" to combat gang violence, significantly reducing homicide rates.
- Declared a "state of exception" in 2022, leading to mass arrests of suspected gang members, which has been criticized for human rights violations but credited for improving public safety.
- **Bitcoin**:
- Made El Salvador the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, aiming to boost financial inclusion and attract tech investment.
- **Economic and Social Initiatives**:
- Focused on infrastructure, tourism, and economic development, including projects like "Bitcoin Beach" and "Surf City."
- Launched social programs, including healthcare and education improvements.
### Controversies:
- **Authoritarianism Accusations**:
- Critics accuse him of authoritarian tendencies, including pressuring the legislature with military presence, packing the Supreme Court with loyalists, and using emergency powers to bypass legal norms.
- **Human Rights**:
- Human rights organizations have raised concerns over arbitrary detentions, torture, and lack of due process during the gang crackdown.
- **Corruption Allegations**:
- Investigations have pointed to potential corruption involving Bukele and his family, though these have been met with strong denials and counter-criticism from Bukele.
### Public Image:
- **Popularity**: Despite controversies, Bukele enjoys high approval ratings in El Salvador due to his security policies and economic initiatives.
- **Media Presence**: Known for his active use of social media to communicate directly with citizens and to promote his administration's achievements, often branding himself as the "world's coolest dictator" or "philosopher king."
Nayib Bukele's presidency marks a significant shift in El Salvador's political landscape, with his policies and approach drawing both admiration and criticism on the national and international stage.