El Salvador - February 2025

Congress approved the elimination of public financing of political parties, repealing article 210 of the Constitution, in which the “political debt” (“deuda política”) financing mechanism was enshrined. The mechanism aimed to promote the independence of political parties, by allocating public resources based on the valid votes each party received in elections. Performance in previous elections determined the resources each party received as an advance for their campaigns, with the final amount they were entitled to being based on valid votes received in each election (and an obligation to repay funding if their electoral performance fell below previous levels). Proponents of ending this system argue the need to address corruption and inefficiency in political parties. Critics consider that it will result in more power for the ruling party, making the political system inaccessible to opposition and new political parties. They further note that parties will be more vulnerable to influence from illicit sources or wealthy donors.

Sources: Asamblea Legislativa (1), Asamblea Legislativa (2), Coyuntura, El Salvador.com, Latin American Post, Associated Press