During his State visit to Costa Rica, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, alongside Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, toured the La Reforma Penitentiary Complex, where they held a press conference discussing prison control and crime management strategies.
“We built the largest prison in Latin America for 40,000 inmates at a minimal cost because we designed it ourselves,” President Bukele stated. He emphasized the importance of prison control, recounting that El Salvador began tightening its prison system as early as 2019, laying the foundation for its anti-gang campaign launched in 2022. Bukele acknowledged Costa Rica’s efforts in prison management but noted that the system requires better tools to address fundamental needs.
Bukele stressed that his government prioritizes the rights of crime victims, a stance that has drawn international criticism. “Costa Rica is a jewel that you must protect. You are currently seeing symptoms similar to those that El Salvador faced in the 1990s, and there’s still time to act,” he warned. Bukele advised that all sectors of society must support the fight against crime.
Reflecting on El Salvador’s own experience with rising crime, Bukele said, “We saw how this disease evolved and grew until it became uncontrollable, but by God’s miracle, we managed to contain it. Believe me, you don’t want it to reach that point.”
In a discussion with President Chaves, Bukele suggested reforms for Costa Rica’s penal system, advocating for government responsibility in administering sentences after a person is convicted. “The judicial system decides guilt or innocence, but once convicted, the government should oversee the sentence,” Bukele asserted.
President Chaves commended Bukele’s practical approach, calling his address a “masterful lecture from someone who rolled up his sleeves and succeeded, without sterile academic debates.” Chaves also expressed gratitude for Salvadoran support in recent times of critical climate challenges.