Nayib Bukele: podcast appearances and interviews

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez, born on July 24, 1981, is a Salvadoran politician and businessman who has served as the 43rd president of El Salvador since 2019. Prior to his presidency, Bukele established an advertising company in 1999 and worked at another company owned by his father. Both companies were involved in advertising election campaigns for the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front political party. He entered politics in 2011, joining the FMLN in 2012 and being elected mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán. He subsequently served as mayor of San Salvador until 2018. In 2017, Bukele was ousted from the FMLN and founded the Nuevas Ideas political party. He ran for president in 2019 with the Grand Alliance for National Unity after his new party was not registered by the Supreme Electoral Court. Bukele won the election with 53 percent of the vote. His presidency has been marked by initiatives such as the Territorial Control Plan aimed at reducing homicides, which decreased from a high of 38 per 100,000 in 2019 to 1.9 in 2024, and a nationwide gang crackdown that resulted in over 85,000 arrests. He also passed legislation making Bitcoin legal tender and plans for Bitcoin City. In 2023, the Legislative Assembly approved measures reducing the number of municipalities and legislative seats. Bukele successfully sought re-election in 2024, winning with 85 percent of the vote following a constitutional reinterpretation. His leadership remains highly popular, with approval ratings consistently above 75 percent, though it has been associated with democratic backsliding, including press restrictions and political upheaval. His tenure continues to influence El Salvador's political landscape and regional perception.