Bukele alters Constitution to endorse life imprisonment in El Salvador

"We'll see who supports this reform and who dares to defend the Constitution's continued prohibition against murderers and rapists remaining in prison. Life imprisonment shall only be imposed on murderers, rapists, and terrorists, states the reform to the second paragraph of Article 27 of the Constitution, approved in a plenary session by 59 pro-government deputies, their allies, and two from the opposition, without prior study or debate."

"They started here talking about victims, about victims' rights, and they created laws about victims' rights only to end up with the story that the victim was the accused and the perpetrator was a law enforcement officer. Nothing could be more absurd. But their time has come. What we are doing is irreversible, the minister said at a press conference in Congress."

El Salvador's Legislative Assembly, dominated by President Nayib Bukele's ruling party, approved a constitutional reform permitting life sentences for murderers, rapists, and terrorists. The reform modifies Article 27 of the Constitution, which previously prohibited life imprisonment. Bukele announced this measure following a report by international legal experts accusing his government of committing crimes against humanity during the four-year state of emergency. Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro defended the reform at a press conference, criticizing human rights organizations for their advocacy. The government dismissed international concerns, with Bukele telling critics to "go to hell." The reform passed with 59 pro-government deputies, allies, and two opposition members, without prior study or debate.

Read at english.elpais.com