Nayib Bukele, the president of
El Salvador
, is on track to win re-election in this Sunday's elections.
His
policy against insecurity
convinces most of the population.
Street vendors parade around Plaza Gerardo Barrios with the Metropolitan Cathedral in the background and in front the contrast of the modern and sumptuous building of the National Library, a gift from China completed just a few months ago.
The
cleanliness is absolute, the pavement renewed and the military in almost every corner
of this historic center of San Salvador, through which now, unlike just two years ago,
tourists do wander.
“I support him”
Mauricio, a 73-year-old retiree, is sitting in the square and tells this envoy clearly what will happen in Sunday's elections: "Why is President Bukele going to win? He is going to win with 90%. I support him "You are free here, it's not like before when you couldn't come here because crime quickly killed you."
Bukele campaign volunteers distribute pennants.
Photo: Reuters
Erlinda, 48 years old, is one of the street vendors in this square.
When asked if she is going to vote for Bukele, she answers: “Yes, of course because there is a great improvement here in El Salvador.
Safety more than everything.
“Before, it was tremendous.”
Saúl, 56 years old, who works in public administration, passes by his side: “Well, he is a good president.
"He has come to remove all the bad scum
that was in this country."
Bukele's enormous popularity can be seen at every step.
The polls point to
an overwhelming victory
that is proven by taking time to find
a critical or minimally nuanced voice.
A weakened opposition
“It looks like yes, we have improved, but more so in the city.
But in agriculture, it has gone down, it no longer helps them.
In terms of schools, there is no improvement.
She did not keep
the promises she made with the schools
,” denounces María, 40, who owns a tortilla stand.
A mug with the image of President Bukele.
Photo: Marvin Recinos / AFP
The opposition plays on Sunday not to be left in the most absolute irrelevance.
Dissidence is strongholds.
Francisco and Ernesto are part of an association of retired workers.
They welcome us at their location just a few blocks from the center.
“So this has led to a series of abuses and arrests that have made international news, rapes of people.
The emergency regime for Bukele is his greatest achievement.
For him, because in other areas it has been a total failure,” they explain.
“The prosecutor will be given power to designate who are terrorists and there we are in danger.
Because?
Because if they call us terrorists, this union center,
they are going to come and get in here
," they emphasize.
A mural with the image of Bukele.
Photo: Reuters
The
two traditional parties
that controlled the country's political scene for three decades,
the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
and the
Nationalist Republican Alliance party,
have lost a large part of their support bases despite their insistent speeches of renewal.
They are unable to recover them or confront Bukele's popularity, which has generated a state of satisfaction in terms of citizen security under a collectively assumed premise: the end can justify the means when the history of violence becomes unbearable.