Government and Politics

Government and Politics of El Salvador

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of El Salvador.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: republic
Administrative Divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Legal System: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Nayib BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); Vice President Félix ULLOA (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nayib BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); Vice President Félix ULLOA (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 4 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029) election results: Nayib BUKELE Ortez reelected president; percent of vote - Nayib BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.0%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 4.7%, other 4.6%
Legislative Branch: Unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) Elections: last held on 3 March 2024 (next to be held in 2027) Election results: percent of vote by party - Nuevas Ideas 70.5%, ARENA 5.5%, FMLN 3.2%, other parties the remainder; seats by party - Nuevas Ideas 54, ARENA 2, FMLN 0, other parties 4 Note: The number of seats was reduced from 84 to 60 following a constitutional reform enacted in 2021. The 2024 elections marked a continued consolidation of power by President Nayib Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party, which secured a commanding legislative supermajority.
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly)
Political Parties: Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER, secretary general]; Democratic Convergence or CD (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU) [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ, coordinator general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez]; Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar HERNANDEZ Carcamo, coordinator general]
Head of State: President Nayib BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024)
Head of Government: President Nayib BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
Elections: last held on 3 March 2024 (next to be held in 2027)
Election Results: Percent of vote by party - Nuevas Ideas 70.5%, ARENA 5.5%, FMLN 3.2%, other parties the remainder; seats by party - Nuevas Ideas 54, ARENA 2, FMLN 0, other parties 4. Note: The number of legislative seats was reduced from 84 to 60 following a constitutional reform enacted in 2021. In the February 2024 elections, President Nayib Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party secured a commanding supermajority in the Legislative Assembly, continuing its dominant hold on both the executive and legislative branches. Bukele himself was simultaneously re-elected to a second presidential term by an overwhelming margin, reinforcing his party's consolidation of political power across all levels of government.
Constitution: 23-Dec-83
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
International Organization Participation: BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Elizabeth (New Jersey), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington, DC consulate(s): Boston
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 2278-4444 FAX: [503] 2278-5522

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: San Salvador
Location: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
Time Difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: Spanish for "Holy Savior" (referring to Jesus Christ)

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

U.S. Embassy San Salvador Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur Urbanización Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlán La Libertad Telephone: 503-2501-2999 Fax: 503-2278-6020 Email: ACSSanSal@state,gov The Consular Section is open for services to U.S. citizens from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. weekdays, excluding U.S. and Salvadoran holidays and the first Friday of each month. U.S. citizens with emergencies may come to the Embassy any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After business hours, the Embassy can be contacted by telephone at 503-2501-2316 or 503-2501-2253.

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: Salvadoran Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Salvadoran Army (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Salvadoran Navy (Fuerza Naval de El Slavador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS)
Service Age and Obligation: 18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band. The Masonic triangle represents the 3 branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. The volcanoes stand for the 5 nations of Central America. Within the triangle are symbols of liberty (a Phrygian cap), the ideals of the people (golden rays), and peace (rainbow).
Date of Adoption: 27 September 1972

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics: HIMNO NACIONAL DE EL SALVADOR CHORUS SALUDEMOS LA PATRIA ORGULLOSOS DE HIJOS SUYOS PODERNOS LLAMAR; Y JUREMOS LA VIDA ANIMOSOS. SIN DESCANSO A SU BIEN CONSAGRAR. First Verse De la paz en la dicha suprema Siempre noble soñó El Salvador; Fue obtenerla su eterno problema, Conservarla es su gloria mayor. Y con fe inquebrantable el camino Del progreso se afana en seguir Por llenar su grandioso destino, Conquistarse un feliz porvenir. Le protege una férrea barrera Contra el choque de ruin deslealtad, Desde el día que en su alta bandera Con su sangre escribió: Libertad! Second Verse Libertad es su dogma, es su guía, Que mil veces logró defender; Y otras tantas de audaz tiranía Rechazar el odioso poder. Dolorosa y sangrienta es su historia, Pero excelsa y brillante a la vez, Manantial de legítima gloria, Gran lección de espartana altivez. No desmaya su ignata bravura: En cada hombre hay un héroe inmortal, Que sabrá mantenerse a la altura De su antiguo valor proverbial. Third Verse Todos son abnegados y fieles Al prestigio del bélico ardor, Con que siempre segaron laureles De La Patria salvando el honor. Respetar los derechos extraños Y apoyarse en la recta razón Es para ella, sin torpes amaños, La invariable, más firme ambición. Y en seguir esta línea se aferra, Dedicando su esfuerzo tenaz En hacer cruda guerra a la guerra; Su ventura se encuentra en la paz.
Anthem Lyrics (English): Let us salute the motherland, Proud to be called her children. To her well-being let us swear Boldly and unceasingly to devote our lives. (repeat) Devote our lives! (repeat 4 times) Of peace enjoyed in perfect happiness, El Salvador has always nobly dreamed. To achieve this has been her eternal proposition, To keep it, her greatest glory. With inviolable faith, she eagerly follows The way of progress In order to fulfil her high destiny And achieve a happy future. A stern barrier protects her Against the clash of vile disloyalty, Ever since the day when her lofty banner, In letters of blood, wrote "Freedom", Wrote "Freedom", wrote "Freedom". CHORUS Freedom is her dogma and her guide; A thousand times she has defended it, And as many times has she repelled The hateful power of atrocious tyranny. Her history has been bloody and sad, Yet at the same time sublime and brilliant, A source of legitimate glory And a great lesson in Spartan pride. Her innate bravery shall not waver: In every man there is an immortal hero Who knows how to maintain the level Of the proverbial valour of old. CHORUS All are self-denying and faithful To the tradition of warlike ardour With which they have always reaped fame By saving the motherland's honour. To respect the rights of others And base her actions on right and justice Is for her, without infamous intrigue, The constant and most firm ambition. And in following this line she persists, Dedicating her tenacious efforts In giving hard battle for battle; Her happiness is found in peace. CHORUS
Anthem History: The National Anthem of El Salvador was commonly adopted as the National Song on September 15, 1879 but did not have official recognition until December 11, 1953 The Official National Anthem was composed and written by the artist Juan Aberle and by General Juan José Cañas. It was composed by recommendation of President Dr. Rafael Zaldívar and was sung for the first time on September 15, 1879 at the prior National Palace by children and young students from government and private schools of the capital city

Back to El Salvador