El Salvador’s ruling party on Thursday approved major constitutional reforms that allow for indefinite presidential re-election and extend presidential terms from five to six years, deepening concerns about the country’s democratic trajectory under President Nayib Bukele.

The changes, introduced by Ana Figueroa of the ruling New Ideas party, were passed by the Legislative Assembly—where Bukele’s allies hold a supermajority—with 57 votes in favor and only three opposed. The amendments modify five constitutional articles and eliminate the second-round runoff in presidential elections.

Bukele was re-elected last year despite a constitutional prohibition on consecutive terms, following a controversial 2021 Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for his candidacy. That ruling came after Bukele’s party removed sitting justices and replaced them with loyalists, effectively dismantling one of the few remaining checks on executive power.

Defending the reforms, Figueroa argued that the presidency should have the same electoral flexibility already granted to lawmakers and mayors. “All of them have had the possibility of re-election through popular vote—the only exception until now has been the presidency,” she said.

She also proposed cutting short Bukele’s current term, originally set to end in 2029, to conclude in 2027. This move would align presidential and congressional elections and potentially allow Bukele to seek another six-year term two years earlier.

Opposition lawmakers condemned the decision. Marcela Villatoro of the Nationalist Republican Alliance warned, “Democracy in El Salvador has died.” She cautioned that indefinite re-election undermines democratic governance and fosters corruption, nepotism, and political exclusion.

Assembly Vice President Suecy Callejas dismissed those concerns, declaring, “Power has returned to the only place that it truly belongs—to the Salvadoran people.”

President Bukele has not publicly commented on the reforms. He remains highly popular, largely due to his crackdown on gangs. His administration imposed a state of emergency that suspended key constitutional protections and resulted in the arrest of more than 75,000 people, amid allegations of past secret negotiations with criminal organizations.

His consolidation of power has inspired leaders in the region to emulate his hardline approach. However, critics warn that his growing authoritarianism threatens El Salvador’s democratic institutions. In recent months, several legal professionals critical of Bukele’s government have been arrested, and a leading human rights group announced it was relocating abroad, citing a “wave of repression.”

The latest constitutional overhaul further cements Bukele’s grip on power—and raises alarms about the erosion of democracy in one of Central America’s most closely watched political experiments.