El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly has approved the thirty-second extension of the exceptional regime, which will remain in effect for another 30 days, continuing efforts to bolster security across the country. The measure, presented by the Council of Ministers through Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro, received broad support from the ruling party and its allies, with 57 deputies from Nuevas Ideas, PDC, and PCN voting in favor.
The exceptional regime, first implemented nearly three years ago, temporarily suspends certain constitutional rights to aid in the government’s crackdown on gang violence. Specifically, it suspends provisions related to arrests and due process, allowing authorities to detain suspected gang members more effectively.
This extension follows a record of success in reducing crime under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, with 746 days of no homicides, 633 of which occurred during the regime’s enforcement. Despite the approval, the measure faced some opposition, with deputies from the opposition party ARENA abstaining from voting and Claudia Ortiz, from the VAMOS party, voting against it.
The government continues to view the exceptional regime as a crucial tool in securing the country and combating gang-related violence, with authorities crediting it for the significant reduction in homicides and overall crime in recent years.