The afternoon of February 9 will forever be remembered in Salvadoran history. The day is without precedent, even counting the years of Civil War. Following orders from President Nayib Bukele, the army took over the Legislative Assembly's facilities. Soldiers equipped with long weapons, helmets, and bulletproof vests usurped the country's legislative body even before Bukele walked into the main congressional chamber surrounded by cadets from the Military School. He walked in and sat on the chair reserved for the head of Congress, not the nation's president.
'It's very clear now who's in control of this situation,' Bukele said to a room where only 31 out of 84 members of Congress stood. And then he proceded to pray. Once that was done, he left the Blue Room, surrounded again by soldiers, and returned to a stage outside to tell his followers that God asked him to be patient. Bukele then told the crowd that he would give legislators one more week to approve the $109 million loan he's demanding for his security plan. Behind him, he left an unforgettable scene: soldiers and riot police in charge of the nation's legislative body.
Troops took over the streets surrounding the Legislative Assembly on February 8. Dozens of soldiers watched over the blocks where the president called the people to protest against members of Congress on February 9. Photo by Victor Peña.
From early Saturday morning, snipers from the National Military stood guard from the tops of the buildings surrounding the Legislative Assembly, their eyes trained on the stage that Bukele’s staffers built in front of the legislative building. The snipers remaine until the president finished his speech, at around 5:20 p.m. Photo by Carlos Barrera.
About 5,000 pro-Bukele demonstrators waited for more than three hours for the president to arrive. During Bukele’s speech, many of those gathered asked him to order a forced mass entrance to the legislative grounds. The president arrived at around 4:20 p.m. and, after a brief speech, went into the building’s main chamber, where he prayed. He later told the crowd that God spoke to him and told him to be patient. Photo by Carlos Barrera.
On February 8, a day before Bukele’s takeover of the Legislative Assembly, members of the Armed Forces swore their loyalty to the president and said they were ready to follow his orders. On February 9, on one of the city’s main avenues and near the Legislative Assembly, the military action was reinforced. Photo by: Carlos Barrea.
After praying inside the main chamber of Congress, the president was surrounded by troops. At that moment, as the crowd anxiously waited, Bukele called for peace and said he’d give members of Congress a week to reach an agreement on the $109 million loan he’s demanding in order to pay for the third phase of his security plan. Photo by: Carlos Barrera.
Two hours before the president arrived to the main chamber of Congress, a cadet escort from the Military School was waiting for him outside. By that point, the presidential branch had already effectively controlled the legislative branch. Photo by Victor Peña.
Moments after Bukele spoke to the crowd, he took a selfie with his followers. Photo by: Carlos Barrera.
For the first time in Salvadoran history, the military broke into the main chamber of Congress at 4:25 p.m. The armed troops surrounded the hall where only 31 out of 84 legislators had gathered. Bukele showed up thirty minutes later and prayed. Photo by: Víctor Peña.
The police’s Office for the Maintenance of Order, or anti-riot squad, took over seats belonging to the Legislative Assembly’s Governing Board. Congresswoman Feliss Cristales, who belongs to the Arena party, showed up in support of Bukele, but left upset after witnessing the large military presence and the number of police officers that broke into the legislative building. Photo by: Víctor Peña.
The president returned to the crowd after praying inside the legislative building to say goodbye and announce that he was giving Congress a week to agree on a vote for the $109 million loan. He warned that if no consensus is met in that time, he would once again call on the crowds and the military. The president then left as he arrived: surrounded by soldiers. Photo by Víctor Peña.
Bukele left the premises at 5:20 p.m., an hour after arriving. He departed surrounded by a strong security unit and a caravan of SUVs. Photo by: Víctor Peña.
Support Independent Journalism in Central America
For the price of a coffee per month, help fund independent Central American journalism that monitors the powerful, exposes wrongdoing, and explains the most complex social phenomena, with the goal of building a better-informed public square.
Support Central American journalism.Cancel anytime.
