El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has been reelected for a second term after a final tally of poll results confirmed his victory. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal, following technical issues during the election, demanded a recount that delayed the announcement for several days.

Bukele's landslide victory was unveiled on Saturday, with the Tribunal declaring that he had garnered an impressive 82.66% of the support, receiving over 2.7 million out of the 3.2 million votes cast. This marks a significant increase of over a million votes compared to his previous election in 2019.

Expressing gratitude to the Salvadoran people, Bukele took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and thanked his supporters for their unwavering backing.

One of the key factors that contributed to Bukele's reelection was his tough stance on crime, particularly his targeted approach to combating criminal gangs that were once prevalent in the country. El Salvador was known for being one of the most violent nations globally, largely attributed to the significant presence of these gangs.

Nearly two years ago, Bukele wielded emergency powers to order the police to apprehend over 77,000 suspects, even without warrants. In addition, he oversaw the establishment of a mega-prison capable of housing 40,000 prisoners, reflecting his unwavering determination to tackle the issue head-on.

The current number of individuals incarcerated now amounts to over 1% of El Salvador's population. Bukele's decisive actions were driven by a particularly gruesome period marked by the murder of more than 80 people in just three days, as gang culture gripped the nation. However, critics have argued that these measures have resulted in the wrongful detention of innocent individuals, with approximately 7,000 people released after being denied due process but later proven innocent.

While Bukele's approach has garnered support from Salvadorans who have witnessed increased security in their neighborhoods, rights advocates have expressed concerns over potential further erosion of civil rights and democratic values.

Bukele's reelection also raised controversy, as the country's constitution strictly prohibits serving more than one term in office. However, he utilized his party's congressional majority to stack the courts with loyalists and reshape state institutions, paving the way for his candidacy.

Ultimately, Bukele's popularity highlights the challenges faced by Central American countries in establishing sustainable democratic models following periods of civil conflicts involving left-wing guerrillas and right-wing authoritarian regimes supported by the United States. El Salvador's own history is marred by a brutal civil war that took place between 1979 and 1992, claiming the lives of more than 75,000 people, while approximately 8,000 others disappeared.

As Bukele embarks on his second term, the Salvadoran population eagerly anticipates further progress in crime reduction and the consolidation of democratic governance in the country.