Bukele landslide shifts El Salvador to one-party state, amplifies democracy fears

El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, who is running for reelection, speaks from the balcony of the National Palace next to his wife Gabriela de Bukele, after declaring himself the winner in the presidential election in San Salvador, El Salvador, February 4, 2024. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - The landslide re-election of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele was cheered by supporters of his gang crackdown, but has worried opponents who fear the country is sliding into a de facto one-party state.

The tallying of the vote was still ongoing on Monday but Bukele had appeared to deliver a crushing victory, with the backing of around 83% of voters. The president said his New Ideas party was on course to bag 58 posts in the 60-seat congress, although only 5% of the vote had been counted.