El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has officially registered to seek another term in office, taking the first formal step toward running in the country’s 2027 presidential election.

Bukele and Vice President Félix Ulloa registered for the ruling Nuevas Ideas party’s primary election, scheduled for July 12. Both are expected to secure the party’s nomination without opposition.

If elected, Bukele would remain president until 2033, extending his time in office to nearly 14 consecutive years.

His latest bid follows constitutional changes approved by El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly in 2026, which eliminated presidential term limits and introduced indefinite re-election. The reforms also shortened Bukele’s current term, allowing a new six-year presidential term to begin next year.

The constitutional changes have generated both strong support and criticism. Supporters argue they allow voters to decide who governs the country, while critics and international human rights organizations have raised concerns about democratic checks and balances and the concentration of political power.

Despite the criticism, Bukele remains one of the most popular leaders in Latin America. Much of his popularity stems from his aggressive crackdown on gangs under a state of emergency that has been in place since 2022. The security strategy has dramatically reduced homicide rates and transformed public safety in many parts of the country, although it has also drawn criticism from rights groups over mass arrests and due process concerns.

At just 45 years old, Bukele appears well-positioned to win another election, with polls continuing to show overwhelming public support.

If successful, his presidency would become one of the longest uninterrupted administrations in El Salvador’s modern democratic history and continue to shape the country’s political future for years to come.