A recent survey by the University Institute of Public Opinion at José Simeón Cañas Central American University (Iudop-UCA) reveals that 70.6% of Salvadorans support President Nayib Bukele running for a third term. The poll, conducted between May 14 and 24, underscores the president’s enduring popularity, particularly due to his security policies and economic initiatives.

According to the study, 28.5% of respondents “strongly agree” and 42.1% “agree” with Bukele seeking a third term. Only 25.4% expressed disagreement, indecision, or abstained from answering. The results reflect growing public confidence in the president’s leadership, especially his crackdown on gang violence and organized crime through the Territorial Control Plan (PCT) and the state of emergency, launched in 2022.

President Bukele assumed office on June 1, 2019, following a historic victory that ended a 30-year power alternation between the ARENA and FMLN parties. During his first term, he focused on public security, constructing the Terrorism Confinement Center and initiating reforms widely supported by the public.

In February 2024, with constitutional authorization for immediate reelection, Bukele won a second term with 84.65% of the vote, surpassing his 2019 electoral performance. His current administration, set to run until 2029, prioritizes economic recovery, already implementing three of the six planned phases: Food, Technology, and Logistics.

Political analysts Nelson Flores and Mauricio Rodríguez interpret the poll as a reflection of a broad consensus in support of Bukele’s continued leadership. “The population still sees him as the only leader capable of moving the country forward,” Flores noted. Rodríguez added that the president’s popularity contradicts opposition narratives claiming his approval is in decline.

The 70.6% backing signals strong national support for a potential third presidential term in 2029, aligning with a broader sentiment favoring political continuity and transformation in El Salvador.