In El Salvador, a Chastened Opposition Looks to Find Its Way
Traditional and new parties alike are dogged by a charismatic president and weak organizational structures.
El Salvador’s February 2021 legislative elections marked a watershed moment for President Nayib Bukele. His allies won a commanding supermajority in Congress, while the four opposition parties—Arena, FMLN, Nuestro Tiempo and Vamos—were left with a paltry 20 seats out of 84, giving them limited power to oppose the charismatic president’s agenda. Since the election, El Salvador’s opposition parties have been unable to push back successfully against any major initiatives. What explains the Salvadoran opposition’s struggles, and what are its prospects going forward Part of the...
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