Thousands of Salvadorans took to the streets to protest the Nayib Bukele government

Thousands of Salvadorans they protested this Wednesday in the streets of the capital of El Salvador against the Government of Nayib Bukele by various decisions taken in just over two years of administration, such as the adoption of bitcoin and the “authoritarian” drift of the trustee, according to various sectors.

The protesters, summoned to social media for several days, gathered in three different points to converge in Plaza Francisco Morazán, in the Historic Center of San Salvador.

Doctors, judges, human rights activists, war veterans, students, feminists and opponents of the Bukele Executive they also rejected decisions of the Legislative Assembly, with a large pro-government majority, and the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ).

They also protested against the decision of doubling the number of military personnel and constitutional reform, Which according to analysts, opens the door to the existence of a single official party.

A reform of the Legislative Assembly to dismiss six-year-old judges and prosecutors was also rejected by the demonstration, In addition to a ruling by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court that paves the way for Bukele may seek re-election in 2024 and not in 2034, As established in a 2014 ruling.

The president, to whom the polls give one high popularity and the magazine Time place among the 100 most influential celebrities, lived this September 15 the first demonstration against which gathered thousands of people.

“The time has come for we are all interested in defending democracy, the Republic, the separation of powers “, Told reporters the judge and former magistrate of the Supreme Sidney Blanc.

He added that the march also reflects the “tiredness of so many violations of the Constitution that are being committed” and “it is not a march in support of any political party,” but “one alarm voice of the way the country is being run and the deterioration of institutions. “

Nelson Bonilla, 21, told the agency EFE which was seen motivated to participate in “all these events,” in reference to the Bitcoin Act and the dismissal of judges.

“Institutionality and the rule of law have not been respected“That’s what motivates me to be here,” he said, adding that the country “needs quite a bit” to make progress in education and health.

Discontent against Bukele takes its bicentennial

The COVID-19 pandemic forced from 2020 a to suspend the commemorative acts of the Central American independence of Spain, Which this 2021 turned 200 years old.

The traditional parades of bands were moved this Wednesday to the protest, in which participants dressed in country flags, shirts with messages against bitcoin and against the “dictatorship.”

“Not to presidential re-election, not to bitcoin, not to militarization, not to dictatorship!” and “without judicial independence there are no guarantees for the defense of human rights,” were the messages of some of the banners carried by the protesters.

It was also possible to read: “Mother, I went to defend my homeland. If I don’t return, I will go with her.” i “Enough of abuses against the press.”

Sectors who protested have criticized President Bukele – mainly from social media – for allegedly undermine the separation of state organs, attack transparency in the management of state resources and attack the press, Among other complaints.

Rockets, colored smoke and drum music put the color note on the protest, which had a wide female participation and that was mostly peaceful.

isolated incidents

Reports from the local press noted the burning of a motorcycle by hooded subjects before the demonstration began.

However, members of civilian organizations tried expel these people from the march.

Near the point of concentration, one of the booths installed by ATMs and bitcoin advice was damaged by two masked women, As he managed to ascertain EFE, and subsequently burned when the march had passed and the concentration was beginning to dissolve.

Although there were thousands of people protesting, no police or military custody was observed on the route.

On the eve, Amnesty International called on the Salvadoran president and the National Civil Police (PNC) not to “repress” the demonstration.

According to the latest survey by the University Institute of Public Opinion of the Central American University (IUDOP), the president received a rating of 7.64 in August on a scale of zero to 10. This grade is lower than December 8.37, 2020 and November 7.8, 2019.

(With information from EFE)

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