San Salvador, El Salvador — El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has once again stirred controversy after ordering the arrest of five bus company executives who defied his directive to offer free public transport for a week. The announcement, made via social media on Monday, follows a pattern of the president using forceful measures to enforce his policies — often at the expense of democratic norms and legal processes.

Bukele's directive came after government-led construction shut down a major highway in the capital, San Salvador, causing major traffic disruptions. To ease the burden on commuters, he declared over the weekend that public transportation would be free for the week — a sudden announcement that left transport companies scrambling.

But by Monday, chaos erupted across the city. Long queues, overcrowded buses, and confusion on several routes marked the first day of the new policy. Some bus operators did not comply, citing lack of clear communication and uncertainty over how their staff would be compensated.

Rather than address those concerns publicly, Bukele took to social media platform X to accuse the bus companies of “sabotage” and ordered their immediate arrest.

Within hours, heavily armed police had detained the transport executives. Photos shared by law enforcement showed the men in handcuffs, surrounded by masked officers. Authorities say the detained are under investigation for “breach of duty, denial of assistance, and extortion,” though legal details remain sparse.

The National Transportation Committee, representing the affected companies, expressed shock at the arrests. They argued that the government had announced the policy with barely a day’s notice and had not clarified how drivers — many of whom are paid daily — would receive their earnings.

Bukele’s move drew further attention to his broader governing style — one defined by iron-fisted tactics and public spectacle. Since declaring a nationwide “state of emergency” in 2022 to tackle gang violence, he has detained tens of thousands, suspended basic legal protections, and bypassed judicial oversight.

The latest arrests also coincide with international concern over Bukele’s handling of 200 Venezuelan men deported from the U.S., now detained in El Salvador’s infamous “mega-prison.” Human rights lawyers representing Venezuela have requested access to the detainees — many of whom have been held incommunicado since March — demanding evidence of their well-being and clarity on their legal status.

The detainees were branded gang members by the Trump administration, but families and lawyers argue that many had no criminal record and were caught in the dragnet of Bukele’s punitive anti-gang policies. Bukele recently offered to swap the Venezuelans for political prisoners held by President Nicolás Maduro — a deal Caracas rejected.

Despite growing condemnation from rights groups, regional leaders, and constitutional scholars, Bukele remains popular at home, credited by many Salvadorans for reducing gang violence. But critics warn that this short-term stability may be coming at the cost of fundamental rights, accountability, and the long-term health of El Salvador’s democracy.


By WafricNews Desk.