The Lonely Life of El Salvador’s Opposition
Lawmaker Claudia Ortiz is leading the political dissent. Her recent campaign—and the ruling party’s attempts to defeat it—show what’s ahead for a backsliding democracy.
In the last days of El Salvador’s outgoing Congress, rumors swirled that President Nayib Bukele’s Nuevas Ideas party might introduce reforms to the nation’s Constitution. Opposition lawmaker Claudia Ortiz sounded the alarm, warning that major shifts could occur overnight. She was right. Earlier this week, in its final session, the Congress approved a motion allowing the current legislature to change most of the Constitution virtually at will. A three-quarters majority, or 45 votes, is now required, and the ruling coalition controls 57. “The most important laws can [now] be changed...
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