Following the European Union’s public criticism of El Salvador’s recently enacted Foreign Agents Law, President Nayib Bukele issued a strong rebuttal emphasizing the country’s sovereignty. The law, approved by El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly and effective as of yesterday, has drawn concern from the EU over its potential impact on civil society.
In a statement on social media platform X, President Bukele expressed regret that the EU, which he described as a “lagging” and “energy-dependent” bloc led by unelected bureaucrats, continues to intervene in El Salvador’s internal affairs. “El Salvador regrets that an aging, overregulated, energy-dependent, technologically lagging bloc led by unelected bureaucrats still insists on lecturing the rest of the world,” Bukele wrote.
The European Union criticized the Foreign Agents Law for potentially restricting access to funding vital for the operation of civil society actors, which the EU considers essential to a healthy democracy. The bloc also warned that the law and the shrinking space for civil society could undermine sustainable development and affect international cooperation. Despite these concerns, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting economic, social, and sustainable progress in El Salvador.
El Salvador’s government clarified that the law’s primary objective is to allocate tax revenues to address the needs of families in El Bosque, a community in Santa Tecla.
Meanwhile, Claudia Ortiz, representative of the VAMOS party, responded to the EU’s stance by urging the bloc to take a firmer position against the country’s exceptional emergency regime. On X, Ortiz called on the EU to denounce what she described as “abhorrent human rights violations” occurring over the past three years under the emergency regime, labeling it “the core of the authoritarian exercise of power in El Salvador.”
This ongoing dialogue highlights the tensions between El Salvador and international observers regarding governance, civil society, and human rights under the current administration.