2023 Salvadoran protests explained

2023 Salvadoran protests
Date:	1 May and 15 September 2023
Place:	San Salvador, El Salvador
Coordinates:	13.6976°N -89.1911°W
Causes:	2022–23 gang crackdown Nayib Bukele's re-election campaign
Goals:	Increase of minimum wage Release of innocents captured during the gang crackdown Respect of workers' rights
Methods:	Protest march
Side1:	Protesters ARENA FMLN Nuestro Tiempo Vamos Other civil organizations
Side2:	Salvadoran government
Leadfigures1:	Joel Sánchez Manuel Flores Luis Parada Claudia Ortiz
Leadfigures2:	Nayib Bukele Rolando Castro
Howmany1:	"Thousands"^[1]

Protests against re-election occurred in San Salvador, El Salvador on 1 May 2023 and 15 September 2023. In two protest marches, protesters marched from the Cuscatlán Park and the Rosales Hospital to the Gerardo Barrios Plaza in protest of the 2022–23 gang crackdown and President Nayib Bukele's re-election campaign. Protesters also demanded an increase in minimum wage and that the government respects the rights of syndicates and respects the constitution.

Organization

In mid-April 2023, seven Salvadoran leftist organizations announced that they would hold a protest march in San Salvador on 1 May 2023 in commemoration of the International Workers' Day. The protest's organizers stated that they were protesting against the country's gang crackdown, which had up to that point led to the arrests of over 67,000 people, and against the re-election campaign of President Nayib Bukele; re-election is prohibited by the constitution of El Salvador.^[2]

On 20 April 2023, Rodrigo Cerritos, a member of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front's (FMLN) national council, confirmed that the FMLN would participate in the 1 May 2023 protest and asked the National Civil Police (PNC) to not block or prevent the protest.^[3]

1 May protest

The protest gathered at 8 a.m. at the Cuscatlán Park. Protesters traveled for three hours to the Gerardo Barrios Plaza. During the march, protesters demanded an increase in minimum wage from US$365 to US$500, the respect of syndical liberties, the respect of the constitution, and opposed the capture of innocent people in the gang crackdown and presidential re-election. In total, 34 organizations and the FMLN, Nuestro Tiempo and Vamos political parties participated in the protest.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

Protesters met with Rolando Castro, the minister of labor who was present on behalf of Bukele, at the end of the march. Protesters also burned an effigy of Bukele.

15 September protest

On 11 September 2023, various civil organizations announced that they would hold another protest march against re-election on 15 September 2023, the country's independence day. The protest was planned to march from the Rosales Hospital to the Gerardo Barrios Plaza. According to Francisco Omar Parada, a spokesman for the Resistance and Popular Rebellion Bloc, the march would protest presidential re-election, the reductions of municipalities and seats on the Legislative Assembly, the "destruction" ("Spanish; Castilian: destrucción") of democratic institutions, and the "illegal control" ("Spanish; Castilian: control ilegal") exerted by the presidency, the judiciary, the office of the attorney general, and other state institutions. The march's motto was "no to re-election, not one day more" ("Spanish; Castilian: no a la reelección, ni un día más").^[8] The presidential candidates of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA)—Joel Sánchez—, the FMLN—Manuel Flores—and Nuestro Tiempo—Luis Parada—participated in the protest, as did various opposition deputies of the Legislative Assembly.^[9]

See also

• 2020 Salvadoran protests

Notes and References

1. Web site: El Salvador Becoming a Nicaragua-Style Dictatorship, Civil Groups Warn. en. 16 September 2023. 16 September 2023. The Times. Rory. Sullivan. San Salvador, El Salvador. subscription.
2. Web site: Siete Organizaciones de Izquierda Anuncian Marcha Contra Régimen y Reelección. Seven Leftist Organizations Announce March Against State of Exception and Re-Election. es. 12 April 2023. 12 April 2023. Yolanda. Magaña. El Mundo.
3. Web site: FMLN Anuncia que Participará en Marcha del 1 de Mayo. FMLN Announces that It Will Participate in the 1 May March. es. 20 April 2023. 20 April 2023. El Mundo. Susana. Peñate.
4. Web site: Marchan por Salario Mínimo de $500 y Contra Régimen de Excepción. They March for a Minimum Wage of $500 and Against the State of Exception. es. 1 May 2023. 1 May 2023. Susana. Peñate. El Mundo.
5. Web site: Organizaciones, Sindicatos y Trabajadores Marchan para Conmemorar el 1 de Mayo. Organization, Syndicates, and Workers March to Commemorate 1 May. es. 1 May 2023. 1 May 2023. El Salvador.com. Lissette. Lemus. Milton. Rodríguez.
6. Web site: Empleados Gubernamentales y Algunos Sindicatos Conmemoraron el Día Internacional del Trabajo. Government Employees and Some Syndicates Commemorate the International Day of Labor. es. 1 May 2023. 1 May 2023. La Prensa Gráfica. Alfredo. Rodríguez.
7. Web site: Miembros del MOVIR Marcharon este 1 de Mayo para Exigir la Libertad de Reos Inocentes en El Salvador. Members of MOVIR Marched this 1 May to Demand the Liberty of the Innocents in El Salvador. es. 1 May 2023. 1 May 2023. La Prensa Gráfica.
8. Web site: Organizaciones Anuncian Marcha el 15 de Septiembre Contra la Reelección. Organizations Announce a March on 15 September Against Re-Election. es. 11 September 2023. 11 September 2023. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín.
9. Web site: Médicos, Candidatos Presidenciales y Diputados en Marcha Contra Reelección, Falta de Medicinas y Capturas de Inocentes. Doctors, Presidential Candidates and Deputies March Against Re-Election, Lack of Medicine, and the Capture of Innocents. es. 15 September 2023. 15 September 2023. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín.