The youngest president in Latin America, President Nayib Bukele has been an early symbol of hope and optimism for El Salvador, the region, and the United States as it seeks to stem irregular migration to its southern border. As he continues to settle into office, what policies from his proposed Plan Cuscatlán should his administration prioritize? From combatting corruption and cracking down on organized crime and insecurity, to creating economic opportunities and attracting foreign investment, how will the Bukele administration balance delivering on short-term needs along with long-term structural reforms?

A new Spotlight by María Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila, former minister of foreign affairs of El Salvador and nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, and Domingo Sadurní, program assistant with the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, explores the challenges and opportunities in four policy priorities of the Bukele administration during his first six months in office.

Image: President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele speaks at a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Presidential House in San Salvador, El Salvador, July 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas