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Salvador: Nayib Bukele, the “cool dictator” who fights against gangs
Salvador: Nayib Bukele, the “cool dictator” who fights against gangs – (France 2)
On Sunday February 4, the citizens of this small Central American country were called to the polls to elect their next president. The outgoing head of state Nayib Bukele distinguished himself by staging numerous arrests as part of the fight against drugs.
The president of El Salvador who likes to call himself the “cool dictator”, Nayib Bukele, is campaigning for his re-election. The 42-year-old built his popularity by waging an intense war against gangs. Police make rounds in San Salvador, checking the identities of many residents and arresting those in possession of drugs. These operations illustrate the iron fist of the government, who wants to dismantle gangs in the country.
An effective policy but at what cost?
A merciless war, launched two years ago, which built the reputation of the president of Salvador, au popularity rate of more than 90%. And for this reasone:en the space of a few months, the capital, which was known as one of the most dangerous in the world, became one of the safest. Nayib Bukele’s policy caused a drop in 70% the number of homicides in the country. But at what cost ? Many residents have suffered abuse and sometimes unjustified arrests, they say.
