Salvadoran president to seek reelection despite constitution dispute

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele will run for reelection in 2024, he announced, despite critics saying the country's constitution bans consecutive terms in office.

"After discussing it with my wife Gabriela and with my family, I announce to the Salvadoran people that I have decided to run as a candidate for the presidency of the republic," said Bukele in a televised speech marking the country's 201st independence anniversary.

Bukele, 40, won a five-year term in 2019 when he was seen as a young challenger to the status quo. Since then, critics have accused him of showing authoritarian tendencies.

The former San Salvador mayor -- who maintains a relentless social media presence -- has brushed off the criticism and boasts a 91 percent approval rating, according to a poll by Cid Gallup.

He has made reducing the murder rate in the Central American country a key priority and declared a state of emergency in March as part of a "war" on criminal groups.

In May 2021, aided by a Congress stacked with his allies, Bukele sacked all five judges on the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, the highest judicial authority in the country.

The court issued a resolution that allowed immediate presidential re-election, but critics believe the constitution prohibits that.

He also fired the attorney general and a third of the country's 690 judges -- sacking all those aged over 60 or with more than 30 years of service.

The United States, the United Nations and the Organisation of American States have all called on El Salvador to respect the rule of law as well as press freedom.