El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele delivered a defiant speech marking one year since his re-election, dismissing criticism of his authoritarian approach while doubling down on his controversial security policies.

"I don't care if they call me a dictator. I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," Bukele declared at the National Theatre on June 1, as cited by AFP. The 44-year-old president, who was first elected in 2019 and returned to office in a landslide after the Constitutional Court removed term limits, accused NGOs of defending criminals and suggested the press was participating in an "organised attack" led by international groups. Since then, his administration has tightened regulations on NGOs’ activities following a playbook seen in some Eastern European countries such as Russia and Georgia, which have adopted controversial "foreign agents laws."

"Far from guaranteeing transparency, this law aims to institutionalise the persecution of organisations and becomes another tool to try to silence, weaken, and dismantle independent civil society. The ‘cool’ attitude that President Nayib Bukele tried to stamp on his actions increasingly resembles the worst of the authoritarian actions that have taken place in Latin America over the decades," said Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, commenting on the law approved on May 20.

Bukele's second term has been marked by closer cooperation with the Trump administration on deportations and what critics characterise as increasing pressure on human rights. Under emergency laws bypassing judicial review, El Salvador has accepted over 200 migrants, mostly Venezuelans and some Salvadorans, deported from the United States since March, with many housed at the Cecot prison on allegations of links to criminal organisations, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.

The president's security-focused approach has yielded tangible results domestically. El Salvador recorded just 114 homicides in 2024, a record low according to AP, continuing significant security improvements under the state of emergency that has granted the government extraordinary powers for two consecutive years.

However, Bukele's economic record presents challenges. Official data cited by EFE shows El Salvador's poverty rate has increased from 22.8% to 27.2% during his presidency, highlighting the disconnect between security gains and lacklustre economic progress as Bukele continues to pursue his ambitious crypto plans in defiance of repeated IMF warnings.

Despite reassurances and clear stipulations, the small Central American nation appears to have violated the fund's terms repeatedly since the deal's signing in February by purchasing eight additional bitcoins, directly contravening the conditions of the $1.4bn IMF agreement. This could delay the first $120mn much-needed payout due in June.

This growing tension between authoritarian governance and economic hardship could test Bukele's popularity despite his impressive security achievements. As international scrutiny intensifies over his human rights record, including courts of law, and judicial challenges to deportation policies emerge in US courts, Bukele's confrontational stance suggests he will prioritise security gains over democratic norms, potentially setting the stage for further conflicts with international partners and domestic opposition.