El Salvador’s GDP has grown by 3.5% since the massive crackdown on criminal gangs by Nayib Bukele’s government.
Speaking during a panel discussion, Bukele said that contrary to popular expectations and the focus of the security agencies on the hit, which was expected to cause an economic decrease of 10% in GDP, the outcome has been positive.
“The reality is that crime is crime, period. And if you allow it, they will always win in the war of incentives,” Bukele said.
Nayib Bukele became the president of El Salvador on June 1, 2019. Since taking office, one of his most significant focuses has been on addressing crime, especially gang-related violence, which had plagued the country for years.
El Salvador was once considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world due to its high homicide rates, much of which was attributed to powerful gangs like MS-13 and Barrio 18.
Shortly after taking office, he launched the Territorial Control Plan, which increased police and military presence in gang-dominated areas and modernized security infrastructure.
In March 2022, following a spike in gang-related killings, Bukele declared a state of emergency, allowing authorities to arrest tens of thousands of suspected gang members without formal charges, leading to the detention of over 70,000 people.
These aggressive measures, alongside digital surveillance and improved coordination among security forces, have led to a significant reduction in homicides, with the government reporting the lowest murder rates in decades.
“We found out the hard way that the only choice was to go after the gangs and arrest them. Not to punish them but to remove them from society. They have to be out of the equation. They can’t just show up to collect,” he said.
However, Bukele’s approach has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that the crackdown has resulted in abuses, including arbitrary detentions and the erosion of civil liberties.
While some praise his crime-fighting success, others warn of the potential long-term consequences for democracy and human rights in El Salvador.
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