Government and Politics of El Salvador

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 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.

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

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)

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

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