Nayib Bukele confidently declared victory in El Salvador's 2024 Presidential election even before the official results were announced, according to Inter American Law Review.

Anticipated to win in a landslide, Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed congratulations on behalf of the U.S. government.

This election is particularly noteworthy for its historical twist - Bukele, the incumbent president, secured reelection, defying El Salvador's constitution, which prohibits immediate reelection.

Beginning his political journey as the mayor of Nuevo Cuscatán, Bukele assumed the presidency in 2019, promising enhanced education and healthcare accessibility, a pledge that resonated strongly with the less privileged.

His anti-corruption stance garnered widespread support in a nation burdened by years of corruption.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's youthfulness and adept use of social media, particularly TikTok, set him apart.

Preferring TikTok over traditional media, he has amassed popularity, allowing him to express his eccentricities, self-proclaiming as an "instrument of God" and the "world's coolest dictator."

Early Life and Career

Nayib Bukele, born on July 24, 1981, spent his formative years in a middle-class family in San Salvador, the bustling capital of El Salvador, per the Facts.Net.

Before his presidential tenure, Bukele made a name for himself as the mayor of San Salvador, initiating various projects to uplift the city's infrastructure and tackle social issues.

Prior to stepping into the political arena, he ventured into the advertising industry and co-founded a successful marketing firm, showcasing his business prowess that would later influence his governance style.

At the youthful age of 37, Bukele made history by becoming the youngest president in El Salvador's annals.

His fresh perspective and vibrant approach found resonance with a new generation of voters.

In June, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, a charismatic and dynamic leader, took the reins.

His electoral triumph marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape, signaling the arrival of a leader with a vision shaped by both business acumen and a commitment to addressing societal challenges.

Nayib Bukele and Violence in El Salvador

Nayib Bukele made a dramatic entrance into the Legislative Assembly in February 2020, accompanied by armed soldiers, in response to lawmakers' hesitation on a security loan proposal.

Bukele's symbolic act of assuming the chamber's presidency with military support sent a powerful message, AP News noted.

During the early days of the April 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Bukele's administration enforced strict measures, sending stay-at-home order violators to quarantine centers for up to 30 days.

When the Supreme Court declared this unconstitutional, Bukele openly defied the ruling, justifying it with a tweet.

Ongoing detentions occurred despite the court's objections.

In the following year, Bukele's party gained control of the congress, leading to the swift removal of the Supreme Court's constitutional chamber.

The new court interpreted the constitution differently, allowing for consecutive reelection.

In September 2021, it ordered the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to permit a second term.

Addressing gang influence, Nayib Bukele engaged in negotiations but denied granting benefits to gang leaders. In March 2022, escalating gang violence prompted Bukele to seek special powers for a crackdown marked by arrests without warrants, limited legal representation, and broad communication interception authority.

The crackdown involved thousands of troops making door-to-door arrests, resulting in over 76,000 arrests under extended congressional authority.

Despite criticism, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele justified the measures, claiming they reclaimed neighborhoods, freed small businesses from extortion, and provided safety for residents.

Bukele dismissed critics, asserting that the crackdown transformed El Salvador from a high-homicide-rate country a decade ago to one of the safest in the Western Hemisphere. He sees the present as an opportunity for progress after decades of suffering.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Who is Nayib Bukele, the 'CEO of El Salvador'? - From TRT World