El Salvador President Nayib Bukele secures reelection in landslide win: ‘Opposition was pulverized’

President Nayib Bukele on Sunday secured a thumping victory in El Salvador’s elections after voters cast aside concerns about erosion of democracy to reward him for a fierce gang crackdown that transformed security in the Central American country.

Thousands of Bukele’s supporters clad in cyan blue and waving flags thronged San Salvador’s central square to celebrate his re-election, which the 42-year-old leader termed a “referendum” on his government.

Bukele declared himself the winner before official results were announced, claiming to have attained more than 85% of the vote.

Provisional results showed Bukele winning 83% support with 31% of the ballots counted.