President Nayib Bukele has proposed a bold move to eliminate political debt in El Salvador, suggesting that political parties should finance their campaigns through citizen support and proselytizing activities, as demonstrated by his own party, Nuevas Ideas, in 2019.
The proposal comes with a vision to remove the reliance on political debt, which many parties use to fund their campaigns. President Bukele recalled the success of Nuevas Ideas, which raised funds during the 2019 elections through grassroots activities and support from the Salvadoran diaspora. “I remember with nostalgia the events we did in the United States. They were not large sums, but they were enough,” Bukele reflected.
The proposal has received backing in the Legislative Assembly, with the president of the Assembly, Ernesto Castro, calling it a “necessary and correct step.” Castro assured that the analysis of the proposal will begin immediately. Christian Guevara, head of the Nuevas Ideas faction, echoed this support, stating that eliminating political debt aligns with the desires of the Salvadoran people. “The fair, legal, and correct thing to do is to eliminate political debt,” Guevara added.
If approved, this measure would represent a significant shift in the way political campaigns are financed in El Salvador, fostering greater reliance on citizen engagement and reducing political dependency on external financial sources.