The recent initiative spearheaded by Nayib Bukele has sparked a heated debate in Salvadoran politics: the constitutional reform that establishes a special electoral district for the Salvadoran diaspora in the Legislative Assembly.
The Assembly ratified a reform to Article 79 of the Constitution, which will allow, starting in 2027, Salvadorans residing abroad to directly elect their representatives to Parliament, through the creation of a specific electoral district for the diaspora.
This measure guarantees, for the first time, the direct representation of the diaspora in the legislative body, according to official information published on asamblea.gob.sv.
The design of the new district, which will be number 15, requires the redistribution of the current 60 seats in the Legislative Assembly to include the representatives elected by Salvadorans abroad.
The weight of the diaspora's representation will be calculated proportionally to the total number of registered voters in that segment of the electoral registry, which, according to figures from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, currently includes more than 950,000 Salvadorans with registered addresses outside the country.
Until now, votes cast from abroad were counted in the San Salvador department, without a dedicated district or representation.
Deputy Marcela Villatoro, representing the Arena party, warned about the implications of reducing the number of seats in certain departments to allocate them to…
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A generic hand deposits a ballot into a transparent ballot box labeled "El Salvador," symbolizing the participation of the Salvadoran diaspora abroad, with flags of El Salvador and the United States in the background. (Illustrative Image Infobae) The recent advancement driven by Nayib Bukele has sparked intense debate in Salvadoran politics: the constitutional reform that enables a special electoral district for the Salvadoran diaspora in the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly ratified a reform to Article 79 of the Constitution, which will allow, starting in 2027, Salvadorans residing abroad to directly elect their representatives to Parliament, through the creation of a specific electoral district for the diaspora. This measure guarantees, for the first time, the direct representation of the diaspora in the legislative body, according to official information published on asamblea.gob.sv. The design of the new district, which will be number 15, requires the redistribution of the current 60 seats in the Legislative Assembly to include the deputies elected by Salvadorans abroad. The weight of the diaspora's representation will be calculated in proportion to the total number of registered voters in that segment of the electoral registry, which, according to figures from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, currently totals more than 950,000 Salvadorans with a registered address outside the country. Until now, votes cast from abroad were counted in the San Salvador department, without a specific district or representation. Deputy Marcela Villatoro, representing the Arena party, warned about the implications of reducing seats from departments to allocate them to the diaspora. In her view, if this adjustment is implemented, "a group of the population from any of these departments would be left without representation." President Nayib Bukele used his X account on Monday to express: "the opposition says that political representation should not be given to the diaspora because 'they do not live in the country.'" He added that these sectors "advocate for doing what international NGOs say, who do not even know our country." The creation of this district is a direct request from President Bukele and seeks to recognize the economic and social importance of the Salvadoran diaspora, especially its contribution through remittances and its increasing participation in electoral processes. (Photo courtesy of the Presidency of the Republic) In practical terms, the reform implies that the Legislative Assembly must modify the Electoral Code before the general elections in February 2027. Only then will Salvadorans abroad be able to elect their representatives in the next election. Currently, the electoral registry includes 960,928 people residing outside the country, although the total diaspora is around three million, according to official figures. The vast majority live in the United States and are considered the main source of remittances, which are vital to the Salvadoran economy. President Nayib Bukele used his X account on Monday to express his support for the reform for the representation of the diaspora in the Legislative Assembly. The creation of this district is a direct request from President Bukele and seeks to recognize the economic and social importance of the Salvadoran diaspora, especially its contribution through remittances and its increasing participation in electoral processes. The recent reform will give the diaspora the possibility of directly choosing their deputies in the Legislative Assembly starting with the next general elections, transforming the way Salvadoran political representation is structured and raising questions about the future of the opposition in Parliament. This measure is not isolated: in 2023, the ruling party had already promoted a reduction from 84 to 60 seats and changes in the formula for distributing votes, all in the lead-up to the 2024 elections. These provisions have modified the national political landscape, generating tensions and debates about representation and fairness in the electoral system.