El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has emerged as the Latin American leader who generates the most sympathy among Peruvians, according to a recent survey conducted by Datum Internacional for El Comercio, a Peruvian newspaper. Bukele garnered 40% of the vote, leading the sympathy rankings for Latin American presidents in the South American nation.

The Salvadoran president is widely admired for his tough stance on crime, particularly through the Territorial Control Plan (PCT) and the state of emergency, which have been credited with significantly reducing gang violence in El Salvador. Bukele’s security policies have even inspired other countries, with Peruvian judicial officials visiting El Salvador in 2023 to learn from the successful model, and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announcing plans to build a mega-prison similar to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot).

The survey also revealed that 76% of Peruvians express some level of sympathy for El Salvador’s government, with 13% considering it the second most admired country in Latin America, just behind the United States. This level of support highlights the growing international recognition of Bukele’s leadership and the positive perception of El Salvador’s progress under his administration.

In the survey, Argentine President Javier Milei followed Bukele with 14% of sympathy, while Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico secured third place with 9%. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chile’s Gabriel Boric, and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro ranked lower in the survey, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro receiving the least sympathy among Latin American leaders.

Bukele, who began his second term in June 2024, continues to focus on improving El Salvador’s economy, while his security policies remain central to his international reputation.