El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele Enters Second Term with Unprecedented Support

薩爾瓦多總統納伊布·布克萊在前所未有的支持下進入第二個任期

At 42 years old, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele begins his second term on Saturday, boasting unprecedented support from the electorate. Re-elected in February with a resounding 85% of the vote, Bukele now wields near-absolute control over parliament and other government institutions.

42 歲的薩爾瓦多總統納伊布·布克萊於週六開始他的第二個任期，並獲得了選民前所未有的支持。布克萊在 2 月以 85% 的高票率再次當選，現在對議會和其他政府機構擁有近乎絕對的控制權。

His aggressive campaign against criminal gangs has restored a semblance of normalcy to a society long plagued by violence, solidifying his popularity. Despite criticism from human rights organizations, Bukele's unapologetic self-description as a "cool dictator" has made him the most popular leader in Latin America, according to regional polls.

他對犯罪團伙的積極打擊使長期遭受暴力困擾的社會恢復了正常狀態，鞏固了他的聲望。根據地區民意調查，儘管受到人權組織的批評，但布克萊毫無歉意地將自己描述為“酷獨裁者”，這使他成為拉丁美洲最受歡迎的領導人。

This widespread support has translated into a dominant legislative presence, with his New Ideas party securing 54 out of 60 seats in parliament, empowering him to implement his policies effectively.

這種廣泛的支持已轉化為立法上的主導地位，他的新思想黨在議會 60 個席位中獲得了 54 個席位，使他能夠有效地實施其政策。

Bukele's Bitcoin Adoption and Economic Strategy

布克萊的比特幣採用與經濟戰略

One of the most ambitious and controversial aspects of Bukele's presidency is the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender. In 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to embrace Bitcoin in this way, a move intended to transform its economy.

布克萊總統任期內最雄心勃勃、最具爭議的方面之一是採用比特幣作為法定貨幣。 2021 年，薩爾瓦多成為世界上第一個以這種方式擁抱比特幣的國家，此舉旨在改變其經濟。

Bukele's strategy is multi-faceted, aimed at attracting foreign investment, promoting financial inclusion for unbanked citizens, and reducing dependence on the US dollar. This bold initiative involved investing an undisclosed amount of taxpayer money in Bitcoin, despite warnings from international financial institutions about its volatility.

布克萊的策略是多方面的，旨在吸引外國投資，促進無銀行帳戶公民的金融包容性，並減少對美元的依賴。儘管國際金融機構對其波動性發出警告，但這一大膽的舉措涉及將納稅人的資金投資於比特幣，具體金額未公開。

Bitcoin's price has fluctuated dramatically, with lows of $16,000 and highs reaching $73,797. Bukele remains unwavering in his belief that the potential benefits of Bitcoin, such as lower remittance fees and greater economic autonomy, outweigh the risks associated with its instability.

比特幣的價格波動劇烈，最低價為 16,000 美元，最高價達到 73,797 美元。布克萊仍然堅定不移地相信，比特幣的潛在好處，例如較低的匯款費用和更大的經濟自主權，超過了與其不穩定相關的風險。

Bukele's Bitcoin experiment unfolds amid significant economic challenges for El Salvador. The country's public debt has soared to over $30 billion, representing 84% of its GDP, and economic growth is projected to slow to 3% this year from 3.5% in 2023. Critics contend that Bitcoin's volatility could further destabilize the economy and increase financial uncertainty.

布克萊的比特幣實驗是在薩爾瓦多面臨重大經濟挑戰的情況下展開的。該國的公共債務已飆升至超過300 億美元，佔其GDP 的84%，預計今年的經濟成長將從2023 年的3.5% 放緩至3%。經濟穩定並增加金融不確定性。

However, Bukele maintains that the government's efforts to curtail violent crime will underpin economic stability and growth.

然而，布克萊堅稱，政府遏止暴力犯罪的努力將鞏固經濟穩定和成長。