Since his tenure as Mayor of San Salvador in 2017, Nayib Bukele has consistently opposed the allocation of public funds to political parties for election campaigns, known as political debt. His criticism of this practice was evident in various statements and social media posts, where he condemned the use of state resources for partisan activities instead of directing them to urgent public needs, such as healthcare.

On October 19, 2017, Bukele reacted to reports that El Salvador’s major political parties, ARENA and the FMLN, had begun requesting an advance of 75% of their allocated political debt funds. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he questioned this financial practice, stating:

“What if instead, those millions were given as an emergency fund to Hospital Rosales?”

His statement came at a time when Hospital Rosales, the country’s largest and most critical public healthcare facility, was facing an unprecedented crisis. The hospital’s director, Mauricio Ventura, had admitted that severe budget cuts for 2018 threatened its continued operation. Reports emerged of dialysis patients having to buy their own supplies, including needles, while post-operative patients were required to purchase their own medication—otherwise, surgeries could not proceed.

Bukele’s criticism was rooted in the belief that political debt was essentially taxpayer money redirected to sustain political campaigns instead of addressing pressing national issues. His position resonated with many Salvadorans who viewed the practice as an unjustified expense benefiting entrenched political elites.

Fast forward to 2025, Bukele, now President of El Salvador, has fulfilled his long-standing commitment to abolish political debt. On January 29, 2025, the Legislative Assembly ratified a constitutional reform that officially eliminated this form of public financing, marking a historic shift in the country’s political landscape. His administration celebrated the move as a step toward greater fiscal responsibility and fairness, ensuring that taxpayer money is allocated to sectors that directly benefit the population rather than political campaigns.

This decision represents the culmination of a stance Bukele has upheld for years, reflecting his vision of governance focused on prioritizing national interests over political privileges.