Although the economy is the president’s main focus for this term, citizen security and the reduction in the homicide rate are the country’s best assets.

During Bukele’s administration, the country reached 916 days without homicides attributable to maras (gangs), and the month of May is close to becoming one of the safest months in the country’s history.

Since the state of emergency was implemented on March 27, 2022, the country has recorded more than 800 days without murders and has achieved significant results in the fight against gangs.

At the beginning of May, authorities provided a general assessment of the results of the security policy, highlighting the arrest of 86,198 gang members, the seizure of 4,776 firearms, 11,045 vehicles, more than $5 million in cash, and 22,387 cell phones.

However, despite these advances against crime and their impact on the development of economic sectors such as tourism, new economic strategies, an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and alleged agreements with the United States, the Salvadoran economy has not yet taken off.

Although the “bitter pills” announced by Bukele in his inaugural address are already being applied, the results have yet to emerge, and Salvadorans are awaiting the effects of President Donald Trump’s policies, which threaten to slow the economic recovery.

The recent announcement in the United States Congress of a law imposing a tax on remittances or family assistance, which should cause losses of nearly $600 million annually to the El Salvadoran economy, is of concern.

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