El Salvador’s ruling party, Nuevas Ideas, has officially ratified Nayib Bukele and Vice President Félix Ulloa as its presidential ticket for the upcoming 2027 elections. The decision follows the party’s internal primary votes held on Sunday, where Bukele secured a definitive victory based on the total votes counted. This milestone formalizes their bid for the 2027–2033 period, which will mark a historic third term for the administration and the country’s first-ever six-year presidential sexenio.
The path to this reelection bid was cleared by a significant constitutional reform passed on July 31, 2025, which enabled indefinite presidential reelection, extended the executive term from five to six years, and advanced the next election cycle to 2027. Following the vote, key political figures showed strong alignment with the administration. “We have voted for our presidential candidate, Nayib Bukele,” stated former Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya to reporters outside a polling station.
Bukele, who has been in power since June 1, 2019, initially won the presidency with 53.10% of the vote before sweeping the 2024 elections with a resounding 84.65% majority. His political dominance is heavily driven by a massive crackdown on crime, which remains his administration’s signature achievement. Currently entering his seventh year in office, Bukele maintains an extraordinary 87.8% approval rating, according to data from the Central American University (UCA)—a notable figure given the institution’s traditionally critical stance toward the government.
This upcoming election will test the long-term impact of El Salvador’s reshaped political landscape on the international stage. Bukele’s previous reelection in February 2024 relied on a landmark 2021 Constitutional Court ruling, but the newly minted 2025 reforms now firmly solidify his framework for extended governance. As the 2027 race approaches, the Nuevas Ideas coalition enters the campaign trail backed by immense domestic popularity and a consolidated hold on the nation’s political future.