section_path: Political views
section_name: Political views
paragraph_text: Political views
  
  As mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán, Bukele described himself as part of the " radical left " because he wanted "radical changes" (" cambios radicales ") for El Salvador; he also stated that his family had always had significant connections with the Salvadoran political left. Bukele believed in social justice and the state obligation to guarantee Salvadorans the opportunity for "health, education, productive infrastructure" (" salud, educación, infraestructura productiva "). Some FMLN members criticized Bukele's work as a businessman, believing that it contradicted the "historic goal of the proletariat" (" papel histórico del proletariado "): eliminating capitalism.
  
  Since becoming president, Bukele has stated that he does not adhere to any specific political ideology. He has criticized the political left and right in El Salvador for dividing the country after the civil war. In an interview with Time ' s Vera Bergengruen, Bukele stated that he does not consider himself to be left- or right-wing. El Faro ' s editorial board has described Bukele as a "politician without an ideology" (" político sin ideología "). Despite Bukele's ideologic neutrality, some journalists and political analysts have described him as a populist, a right-wing populist,: 82 : 5 and a conservative. Bukele himself has received support from conservatives abroad in both Latin America and the United States, particularly for his anti-crime policies, as well as criticism for democratic backsliding and consolidating power. His political views and government policies have been referred to by some journalists as "Bukelism" or the "Bukele method".
  
  Some Western journalists have compared Bukele to Trump, citing Bukele's style of governance, government policies, rhetoric, and criticism of the press as similar to Trump's. In 2019, Foreign Policy ' s Melissa Vida referred to Bukele as "El Salvador's Trump" and Jacobin ' s Hilary Goodfriend called him "the Donald Trump of Central America". Bukele was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump after his victory in the 2024 United States presidential election. The Economist has described Bukele as politically "hard right" and compared his policies and ideological views to Argentinian president Javier Milei, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, and former Chilean presidential candidate José Antonio Kast.
  
  Bukele is a critic of George Soros, saying in May 2023 that "in all the countries of Latin America, there are outlets and 'journalists' paid by Soros" (" en todos los países de Latinoamérica hay medios y 'periodistas' pagados por Soros "). In February 2024, Bukele spoke at the American Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and accused Soros of attempting to "dictate public politics and laws" (" dictar políticas públicas y leyes ") in El Salvador. Bukele also expressed opposition to globalism, saying that "it's already dead" in El Salvador.
  
  As mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán, Bukele described himself as part of the " radical left " because he wanted "radical changes" (" cambios radicales ") for El Salvador; he also stated that his family had always had significant connections with the Salvadoran political left. Bukele believed in social justice and the state obligation to guarantee Salvadorans the opportunity for "health, education, productive infrastructure" (" salud, educación, infraestructura productiva "). Some FMLN members criticized Bukele's work as a businessman, believing that it contradicted the "historic goal of the proletariat" (" papel histórico del proletariado "): eliminating capitalism.
  
  Since becoming president, Bukele has stated that he does not adhere to any specific political ideology. He has criticized the political left and right in El Salvador for dividing the country after the civil war. In an interview with Time ' s Vera Bergengruen, Bukele stated that he does not consider himself to be left- or right-wing. El Faro ' s editorial board has described Bukele as a "politician without an ideology" (" político sin ideología "). Despite Bukele's ideologic neutrality, some journalists and political analysts have described him as a populist, a right-wing populist,: 82 : 5 and a conservative. Bukele himself has received support from conservatives abroad in both Latin America and the United States, particularly for his anti-crime policies, as well as criticism for democratic backsliding and consolidating power. His political views and government policies have been referred to by some journalists as "Bukelism" or the "Bukele method".
  
  Some Western journalists have compared Bukele to Trump, citing Bukele's style of governance, government policies, rhetoric, and criticism of the press as similar to Trump's. In 2019, Foreign Policy ' s Melissa Vida referred to Bukele as "El Salvador's Trump" and Jacobin ' s Hilary Goodfriend called him "the Donald Trump of Central America". Bukele was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump after his victory in the 2024 United States presidential election. The Economist has described Bukele as politically "hard right" and compared his policies and ideological views to Argentinian president Javier Milei, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, and former Chilean presidential candidate José Antonio Kast.
  
  Bukele is a critic of George Soros, saying in May 2023 that "in all the countries of Latin America, there are outlets and 'journalists' paid by Soros" (" en todos los países de Latinoamérica hay medios y 'periodistas' pagados por Soros "). In February 2024, Bukele spoke at the American Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and accused Soros of attempting to "dictate public politics and laws" (" dictar políticas públicas y leyes ") in El Salvador. Bukele also expressed opposition to globalism, saying that "it's already dead" in El Salvador.