El Salvador President Bukele Defends Dictator Label Amid Crime Crackdown

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele marked the first anniversary of his second term with a defiant speech, stating he would rather be called a "dictator" than allow criminals to roam freely, highlighting his administration's hardline crackdown on gangs which has led to the lowest homicide rates in decades. Bukele dismissed international criticism regarding human rights abuses and arrests of activists, accusing NGOs of defending criminals and the media of orchestrating an "organized attack" against his government. His government has faced condemnation from groups like Amnesty International following the arrest of human rights lawyer Ruth Eleonora Lopez, whom authorities accuse of embezzlement, a move critics view as an effort to silence dissent. Bukele also emphasized his cooperation with U.S. President Donald Trump on deportations and his focus on tangible results over criticism. Despite concerns over eroding civil liberties and arbitrary detentions under the state of emergency, Bukele maintains strong domestic support, having won re-election with a landslide after constitutional changes allowed consecutive terms. He characterized the crackdown on crime and opposition groups as necessary to ensure peace and combat corruption in El Salvador.