El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele requests leave to campaign for reelection

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — President Nayib Bukele asked El Salvador’s Congress Thursday to allow him to stop carrying out his responsibilities as president for six months in order to campaign for reelection despite a constitutional prohibition on reelection.

Bukele will seek a second five-year term for the New Ideas party in the Feb. 4 national elections. Vice President Félix Ulloa also requested leave to campaign again as Bukele’s running mate.

Bukele was expected to present a list of two options to Congress the body to select his interim replacement. If he does not present options, Congress will select the interim president.

Constitutional lawyers maintain that Bukele’s reelection bid violates at least four articles of the constitution. But the Supreme Electoral Tribunal ruled earlier this month that Bukele’s candidacy met the legal requirements.

While highly popular in El Salvador for his aggressive war against the gangs that long terrorized the country, Bukele has faced international criticism for consolidating power and not respecting human rights.