The project, originated and supported in the Presidential House, was widely criticized by civil society, which forced Bukele to distance himself and stop the initiative.
Despite everything, Ulloa – identified with the left – was ratified in his position and some pro-life activists have denounced that he continues to promote constitutional reforms in the country’s universities.
“If we judge according to the facts, Bukele is really a politician who positions himself more in favor of the culture of death,” Larín said.
“If she were truly pro-life and defending children were her priority, she would distance herself from Vice President Félix Ulloa, for having presented a constitutional reform that included a door to abortion, gender ideology, euthanasia, civil unions between people of the same sex , limited the rights of parents over the education of their children and degraded the Catholic Church from its constitutional rank,” he added.
On this, Neydy Casillas has a different perspective. For the vice president for international affairs of the Global Center for Human Rights, “politics is complex” and “there are no perfect parties or governments, just as no man is perfect in this world.”
“It is really the art of the possible, where you have to find the balance between the ideal and the real. In that sense, we must evaluate policies, laws, results, the common good, respect for the human dignity of each person. Personal judgment is not ours, but God’s,” he stated.
Furthermore, Casillas highlighted that Bukele represents a paradigm shift in traditional politics, that “above all, he respects the will and values of the Salvadoran people” and that, as long as that connection is maintained, the results of his pro-life management will be positive.
“Bukele is marking a change of era, perhaps a generational change, where politics and institutions change at a speed that is difficult to assimilate. You have to be attentive because they have many positive things to contribute. “There are always risks,” he stated.
Sara Larín also denounces that campaigns have been proposed from the first lady’s office to try to redefine traditional marriage, to allow homosexual adoption. “El Salvador is so pro-life that despite the political power that Bukele has, the principles of life, family and religious freedom are not negotiable,” she said.
For her, the situation in the Central American country—coupled with a very upcoming decision by the IACHR on the Beatriz Case—can be defining for the entire region in terms of abortion and fundamental rights.
Nayib Bukele’s new presidential term will begin on June 1, 2024 amidst controversies. Several of his detractors indicate that the Salvadoran Constitution does not allow consecutive terms, and that Bukele puts the laws in the background “to do what he believes is best.”
According to article 152 of the Constitution of El Salvador, anyone who has held the position “for more than six months, consecutive or not, during the immediately preceding period, or within the last six months cannot run for the Presidency of the Republic. prior to the beginning of the presidential term.”
In the midst of controversial decisions by the Salvadoran Justice, Bukele requested a license from the position of president of El Salvador on November 30, 2023, with a view to running for the second term in the elections held on February 4, 2024, in which he finally triumph.
Larín envisions “many other nights of sleeplessness and sacrifice” in the next 5 years for activists in favor of life and human dignity. Likewise, she highlights the great pro-life value of Salvadoran legislation “due to the recognition they give to the rights of the human person from the moment of conception.”
“Now, with the re-election of Bukele, the Constitution of El Salvador is yet another role that can be ignored or changed at the whim of the most popular politician in power,” he concluded.
“The most popular politician on duty”
Nayib Bukele enjoys great popular support, as Larín recognizes, something that can be explained thanks to his security policies that dramatically reduced crime rates in El Salvador. Cecilia Rivera, a member of the Central American Parliament for the Nuevas Ideas party, defended the “Bukelist” government and categorized the president as a “great defender of human life.”
Rivera claimed the legitimacy of Bukele’s re-election, highlighting the “enormous amount of votes” he received both inside and outside the country.” Furthermore, he told ACI Prensa that “what is important is the feeling of the Salvadoran people in favor of the president, who recognizes his leadership,” something that he claims to verify day by day thanks to his work in rural areas.
On the issue of abortion, Rivera pointed out that “our president has been clear and has concluded that the Constitution must maintain its principles and faith placed in God.” He also added: “No State entity has given room for opening the door to these issues. “Nayib Bukele is definitely a defender of life from all perspectives.”
However, when asked about the Beatriz Case and Bukele’s position, Representative Rivera stated that she preferred not to offer statements on the matter.
Likewise, regarding the constitutional reform promoted by Vice President Ulloa, Rivera expressed that “at the time it was presented (2021) they were not a priority for El Salvador.” Furthermore, he stated that he does not know if a similar project will be promoted again in the near future.
“I have always heard (Bukele) forceful speeches against abortion and I don’t know if he has ever mentioned that he accepts it only when the mother’s life is at stake. “Abortion has always been a resounding no in his speeches,” he said.
Finally, Rivera highlighted the relations of the Salvadoran State with the Holy See, stating that the Vatican has been “very respectful of the principle of non-interference.” He concluded by explaining that, a few years ago, the Catholic faithful could not celebrate their faith in peace due to insecurity and that, today, that situation has changed radically.
A call to Bukele and his government to be consistent with their speech
During his first term, four artificial reproduction clinics were opened in the country, offering fertilization services. in vitrofreezing of gametes and preimplantation genetic diagnoses, which allow embryos with Down syndrome created in their laboratories to be ruled out.
“This permissiveness shows that his position on abortion does not have a deep understanding of the true value of human life,” said Sara Larín, who urges the Salvadoran president to show “true interest in the health of mothers” and not to act with a “extreme incoherence” on such delicate and important issues for society and the future of the country.