The United States congratulates President Nayib Bukele after being sworn in for a second term in El Salvador

“We look forward to continuing the partnership and collaboration in the years to come to build a better future for all Salvadorans,” said Blinken, in a statement issued by the US State Department.

The secretary showed his willingness to “deepen” ties between the United States and El Salvador, and work together in favor of “good government, citizen security with due process, inclusive economic prosperity and human rights”.

Bukele was sworn in for a second term, despite the constitutional prohibition, during an event closed to the public held in the centenary National Palace that was broadcast on the national network and in which several leaders and heads of State and Government were present, including the king of Spain, Felipe VI, and the president of Argentina, Javier Milei.

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Bukele thus becomes the first president of the democratic era of El Salvador to be re-elected for a second consecutive termafter decades of military dictatorship and a 12-year civil war (1980-1992).

During his inauguration speech, Bukele promised to “heal” the economy after curing the country of the “cancer” of violence, generated mainly by gang groups.

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“Now, that we have fixed the most urgent thing, which was security, we are going to focus squarely on the important problems, starting with the economy,” Bukele said before hundreds of people, including special guests and followers, from the box of the centenary Palace. Nacional, in the heart of the Salvadoran capital.

Among the crowd of people who incessantly chanted ‘Bukele forever’, the president began his speech: “This is the most important moment in our recent history. Finally, we conquered fear and we are a free country,” says Bukele in his first words.

“The miracles that we have seen in this country are not few. If God so wishes, many more will come”he intones standing upright from the box.

It didn’t take long for him to take advantage of his best asset, the gangs. Through a fable, Bukele took a tour of his security policy to lock up the gangs in a mega-prison and attacked previous governments, labeling them as ineffective in solving that problem.

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The Savior was a “sick patient” and he was a doctor capable of curing the “cancer” and “all the diseases” he suffered: “Who would you listen to? The doctor who cured you of cancer, the doctors who almost killed you.” and they were scammed. Salvadoran society is like a still sick person, with many since birth.”

“But – he continues – 30 years ago a more serious disease appeared: gang cancer. And it became at that time the most urgent thing to solve.”

Then, he proclaimed it loud and clear: “Just as the doctor gave the patient the cure for cancer but to be cured he had to follow the recipe, so these Salvadoran people made the decision to follow the letter and together we got rid of cancer.” of the gangs.” And the Salvadorans present burst into cheers.

He did not hesitate to warn what the mission of his new administration will be: “We have the enormous task of protecting our legacy like a lion.” Like him, he did not hesitate to ask Salvadorans to defend the “decisions” that he will make but “without complaining” and without listening to the “enemies of the people.”

Despite his strong popularity, Bukele’s inauguration has not been exempt from controversy: not only because the Salvadoran constitution does not allow a second consecutive term but because the last precedent in the history of El Salvador of a president who sought immediate re-election dates back to to the military dictatorship with General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, who governed between 1931 and 1944.

A comparison that Bukele does not escape as he is constantly accused by international organizations of having an authoritarian character and not respecting human rights, although some Salvadorans do not seem to mind that image.

One of them is Félix López, 43 years old and wrapped in an El Salvador flag: “Look, we see that here. That is declared here (in the square full of people). We are fine. He is the president, he has authority and can make decisions.

It was with that image of a heavy hand but close to the people that Bukele withdrew from the balcony to make way for another five years in office. The square continued to erupt in joy: they now have his doctor again.