El Salvador

El Salvador Extends Anti-Gang State of Emergency

MAR 27 2022·Updated OCT 11 2022

Story

Image credit: Reuters

The Facts

El Salvador's Parliament granted Pres. Nayib Bukele's request to extend the country's state of emergency for a second time on Wed., for 30 more days. The state of emergency was originally declared in late March after a wave of gang-related shootings saw 62 killed in one day.
NBC
Human rights groups have denounced the decree, but polls indicate popular support for the crackdown as homicide rates have since fallen.
Al Jazeera
About 34.5k suspected gang members have been arrested under the emergency measures, which authorize 15-day detentions without charges and suspend the right to be informed of the reason for arrest and access to a lawyer.
Al Jazeera
Along with the state of emergency, El Salvador has made changes in legislation to tackle gang violence, including reducing the age of criminal responsibility to 12.
The Washington Post
Bukele, 40, came to power in 2019 on a promise to solve the country's longstanding issues with violence. Until March, homicide rates had declined during his term and he enjoys high approval ratings.
nytimes
The US government, however, has accused Bukele of providing financial incentives to local gangs to plunge homicide rates; an imputation he's vehemently denied.
Independent

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Bukele is an effective populist leader who has been vocal in criticizing the country's complacent politicians - right and left - for their failures to care for victims of the country's civil war. This latest move further demonstrates his commitment to protecting Salvadorans and confronting criminals, two main goals of his administration.

Al Jazeera

Narrative B

Bukele's image as a law-and-order president is an illusion created by a secret alliance he entered into with gang leaders in order to keep the peace - a tactic many Salvadoran presidents have adopted. The recent outbreak in violence may hint that the gangs want to renegotiate this pact, and Bukele is seizing the opportunity for another power grab.