Nayib Bukele Declared Winner in El Salvador Election According to Exit Polls

Pro-Bitcoiner Nayib Bukele Expected to Win Second Term as El Salvador’s President

According to new exit poll data, it is highly anticipated that Nayib Bukele, a strong supporter of Bitcoin, will run for a second term as president of El Salvador after his party, “Nueva Ideas,” has won 87% of the votes.

Bukele, who is the current leader of the party, shared a post from CID Gallup on February 5, which showed his party holding a significant lead with 87% of the votes, while his closest competitors, Manuel Flores and Joel Sanchez, only had 7% and 4% of the votes, respectively. If the official results confirm this lead, Bukele will serve as president until 2029.

Bukele’s Party Dominates Election with Overwhelming Support

In a separate post, Bukele stated that his party’s own data shows that he has won the election with over 85% of the votes and a minimum of 58 out of 60 seats in the assembly.

A spokesperson for El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office informed Cointelegraph that they expect an even higher percentage of votes to go to Bukele once the official results are announced.

Nayib Bukele’s Impact on Bitcoin and Human Rights in El Salvador

In September 2021, Nayib Bukele made waves by legalizing Bitcoin as a form of tender in El Salvador, along with other initiatives promoting the use of cryptocurrency. However, his stance on Bitcoin and human rights has been met with both praise and criticism.

Last week, Vice President Félix Ulloa reaffirmed Bukele’s commitment to Bitcoin, stating that his strategy would remain unchanged if he were re-elected. This was reported by Reuters on February 1st.

Bukele is also known for his aggressive approach to tackling gang crime in El Salvador. However, Amnesty International has raised concerns about the country’s human rights record under his leadership, citing an “alarming regression” in the protection of human rights and a potential replacement of gang violence with “state violence.”

In addition to his stance on Bitcoin and human rights, Bukele’s campaign for a second term has been marred by controversy. Despite this, he remains a polarizing figure in the country’s political landscape.

El Salvador’s Constitution and Bukele’s Potential Second Term

According to critics like Salvadoran lawyer Alfonso Fajardo, El Salvador’s constitution explicitly prohibits President Bukele from seeking a second consecutive term.

Upon hearing the news that Bukele had filed paperwork to run again in October, Fajardo stated, “Today is a good day to remember that immediate presidential re-election is prohibited up to 7 times by the Constitution.”

Despite this controversy, El Salvador has been predicted to become the “Singapore of the Americas” by Vaneck strategy adviser Gabor Gurbacs. Gurbacs expects an influx of investment capital and immigration into the country in the near future.