In San Salvador, tension is rising as Enrique Anaya, a prominent constitutional lawyer, finds himself in detention after boldly labeling President Nayib Bukele a “dictator” on live television. Just days after his public remarks, authorities arrested Anaya outside his daughter’s residence, a clear indication to many of Bukele’s tightening grip on power.
Standing outside the detention center in the capital, Jaime Quintanilla, Anaya’s attorney, attempts to provide his client with basic necessities but remains uncertain about the prospect of Anaya’s release. Anaya’s arrest is part of a larger pattern, as critics assert that Bukele is increasingly stifling dissent, emboldened, some say, by past support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had commended Bukele without rebuking actions that stirred international concern. Bukele’s administration faces criticism for silencing opposition, including lawyers, journalists, and human rights advocates, many of whom have fled the country amid intimidation.
Bukele’s office has not commented on these allegations. His administration has gained notoriety for a stringent clampdown on gangs, a move that has bolstered his popularity at the cost of civil rights, with over 87,000 people detained on sparse evidence. This power consolidation extends to all branches of government, including the judiciary, where loyalists dominate. Bukele successfully pursued reelection in a manner deemed unconstitutional by critics. “Call me a dictator if you must,” he declared, justifying his actions under the guise of public safety.
A climate of fear pervades El Salvador; those who dare to stand against the administration face the threat of imprisonment, as Quintanilla himself acknowledges. Anaya, previously vocal in confronting government overreach, now endures a precarious legal battle, accused baselessly of money laundering. Anaya’s ordeal is symbolic of the broader repression faced by many who seek reform, forcing numerous advocates to leave under duress, hoping for asylum rights elsewhere within the region.
Simultaneously, the impact of past U.S. political dynamics remains evident. Trump’s administration had previously supported Bukele, a factor that, according to human rights groups, emboldens Bukele’s governance strategy. The administration’s implementation of the “foreign agents” law echoes authoritarian measures seen in other countries, aimed at gagging free expression and limiting foreign-backed organizational influence.
In response to mounting international pressure, many journalists have also retreated from El Salvador, fearing for their safety. The highly respected El Faro news outlet has become a target following exposes on governmental dealings with gang members. Journalists affiliated with the publication, including Óscar Martínez, have resigned to temporary asylum abroad, wary of facing potential imprisonment upon their return. Their investigative work remains crucial, unveiling governmental corruption and abuses despite these threats.
Despite the climate of repression, the courage of journalists and lawyers like Anaya presents a daunting challenge to Bukele’s administration. Their stories highlight the fraught state of democracy in nations navigating political turbulence without clear safeguards for civil liberties. As Quintanilla visits Anaya under police scrutiny, the absence of formal charges underscores a precarious legal landscape that jeopardizes El Salvador’s democratic future.