The recent arrests of two prominent critics of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele have sparked renewed concerns about the country’s democratic backsliding. In this episode we discuss the detentions of attorney Ruth López and constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya, both vocal opponents of Bukele, and what these developments might signal about the president’s tightening grip on power. We also talk about challenges on the economic front and a slight dip in Bukele’s sky-high approval ratings. Our guest is The Economist’s Mexico and Central America bureau chief, Sarah Birke. Sarah shares insights from her recent reporting trip to El Salvador, unpacking what’s happening on the ground and what to watch for in the months ahead.
Subscribe to The Americas Quarterly Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other platforms
Guest:
Sarah Birke is The Economist’s Mexico and Central America bureau chief
Host:
Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly
If you’d like to know more:
The Lonely Life of El Salvador’s Opposition by Chase Harrison
El Salvador’s Economy Will Test Bukele 2.0 by Will Freeman
U.S. Citizens Are Getting Caught Up in El Salvador’s Mass Arrests by Ricardo J. Valencia
