El Salvador’s President sanctions law for major political administrative overhaul

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has sanctioned and signed the Special Law for Municipal Restructuring, set to reduce the number of municipalities in the country from 262 to 44.

The president took to Twitter to announce the signing of the law, emphasizing the historic nature of this significant administrative reform.

The legislation was approved by a strong majority of the unicameral Legislative Assembly late on Tuesday night, with a vote of 67 in favor, 15 against, and two absentees from the total 84 deputies.

Bukele, who presented the proposal at a solemn session of the Legislative Assembly, hailed the decision.

He is currently in his fourth year of a five-year term that concludes on June 1, 2024.

The restructuring comes less than eight months before the presidential and legislative elections slated for February 4, 2024, and one month before the municipal and Central American Parliament (Parlacen) elections scheduled for March 3.

Along with the restructuring law, deputies extended the deadline by 15 days for political parties to conduct internal elections for candidate selection, originally due on July 5.

Most political parties have stated that they are adjusting their schedules to conduct these votes, including those for the Legislative Assembly.

It’s worth noting that the Assembly’s seats were trimmed from 84 to 60 due to amendments in the Electoral Code, approved by parliament earlier in July.

Both the municipal restructuring and the reduction of assembly seats will come into full effect on May 31, 2024, when newly elected deputies, mayors, and municipal councils assume their offices.

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