Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Latin America Update. This week’s headlines: Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele wins reelection, Mexico secures World Cup hosting duties, and Chile faces two national tragedies. Subscribe to Latin America Update every Friday. Nayib Bukele is all set for victory as Salvadoran president, easily winning reelection in an uncontested contest, and as of Thursday, having earned a solid 83 percent of the votes with 70 percent reporting, eliminating the need for a runoff. The electoral authority’s head expressed suspicion of manipulation in an audio leak, with ballot hand-counting taking effect midweek for both presidential and legislative elections. Despite allegations of a lack of democratic checks typically followed in Salvador’s constitution, and a supportive congress, delegates warn of the potential dangers of democracy regression via unchecked executive power measures. Bukele’s unmistakable win stands as a test for neighboring countries to mirror his security strategies with varied results. While northward migration from El Salvador lessened during Bukele’s term, insecurity remains a migration driver. Turning focus to elsewhere in Latin America: Argentinian Congress rejects President Javier Milei’s key economic reform, and Brazil conducts a probe into a suspected coup attempt. Chile faced forest fires with over 120 casualties and former President Sebastián Piñera’s death. Amid these calamities, the quest for justice and democracy continues across Latin America.
