The parliament of Salvador has approved the Third Amendment to the Constitution, which now allows the imposition of penalties life imprisonment for serious crimes such as murder, rape and terrorism, granting a request from President Nayib Bukele.

The constitutional change marks a major reform of the Central American country’s criminal justice system, strengthening the framework for suppressing crime as part of the war the government has declared against gangs.

What changes with the constitutional revision

The revision explicitly repealed the constitutional prohibition on imposing “life sentences”, paving the way for harsher sentences for certain categories of crimes.

The new provision applies in particular to “murderers, rapists and terrorists”, as President Nayib Bukele had called for.

The decision was approved by a broad majority, with 59 out of 60 members of parliament voting in favour of the revision.

The announcement was made by the president of the Salvadoran National Delegation, Ernesto Castro.

What was the previous regime

Until yesterday, the most severe penalty under the Salvadoran legal system was imprisonment for up to 60 years.

The new constitutional provision radically changes this framework, now allowing life imprisonment for the most serious crimes.