Nelson Renteria

SAN SALVADOR – Sunday’s emergency powers were approved by El Salvador’s Congress. They temporarily lifted some protections from the Constitution after a dramatic rise in violence attributed to criminal gangs.

In a nation with 6.5million people, there was 62 reported homicides. Celia Medrano a long-standing human rights advocate, said that it was the deadliest day in recent history.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele requested that Congress approve emergency measures. These include restrictions on assembly, the inviolability and confidentiality of communications and communications as well as an extension to administrative detention.

Ernesto Castro was the President of Congress after a special session that took place early Sunday morning. He stated, “We applaud the extraordinary regime,” which will enable our government to safeguard the lives and combat criminality.

Bukele expressed his appreciation for the action after the election.

“The appropriate institutions will take the necessary measures. They will announce them only when it is needed. The vast majority of people’s lives are normal. God bless you all,” Bukele posted on Twitter (NYSE :).

El Salvador’s 2015 homicide rate was 103 per 100,000 residents, which is one of the highest rates anywhere in the globe. The rate of homicides has been steadily falling since Bukele was elected to office in 2019.

However, Bukele’s administration was criticised by those who believe he tried to consolidate his power over the legislative and courts.

His government has also been accused of brokering a pact https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/exclusive-salvadoran-ex-prosecutor-says-government-quashed-probe-into-pact-with-2021-12-28 with the two main gangs, offering gang members better prison conditions, money and other benefits in exchange for them reducing homicide rates and giving electoral support to Bukele’s party at legislative elections. These accusations were repeatedly dismissed by Bukele.