New Ideas Political Party Rally. Today, the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional reform to eliminate public funding for political parties in elections, commonly referred to as “Deuda Política” (political debt).
The reform, spearheaded by President Nayib Bukele and backed by the ruling Nuevas Ideas political party, repealed Article 210 of the Constitution, which previously recognized political debt as a financing mechanism for political parties.
The measure passed with 58 votes of lawmakers aligned with the Bukele administration. The next step in the constitutional reform is ratification, requiring approval from two-thirds of the deputies.
Eliminating public financing of political parties is something most Salvadorans have asked for years.
We are clear that people do not want political debt. We are here to change the course of the country under the will of the Salvadorans. Deputy Christian Guevara.
Political debt previously allocated state funds to parties based on the number of votes they received in elections. From now on, political parties must look for private funding to run their political campaigns.
Bukele’s Political Opposition
Opposition parties and deputies not aligned with Bukele expressed dissatisfaction with the newly approved constitutional reform.
VAMOS deputy Claudia Ortiz, one of the most visible deputies of the opposition, stated that this was not about eliminating the public financing of political parties.
They don’t eliminate political debt to “save money.” They’ve used that lie before. They do this to justify changing the Constitution at will. Now, they can change the locks on power and the rights of all Salvadorans from one day to the next. Deputy Claudia Ortiz.
The right-wing political party Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) stated in an X social media post that it is necessary to maintain the public financing mechanisms for political parties in El Salvador.
ARENA states that this public financing allows for greater transparency, counteracts the influence of organized crime, and increases political representation.
The elimination of article 210 of the Constitution, which speaks about public financing, simply aims to suppress the plurality and equity of the country’s democratic system. ARENA Deputy Francisco Lira.
