El Salvador President Vows White-Collar Prison In Fight Against Corruption

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador announced on Thursday his commitment to constructing a prison dedicated to housing white-collar criminals, as he intensifies his campaign against corruption, drawing parallels to his efforts in combating organized crime.

"Just as we fought the gangs head on with the full force of the state, we will launch a full-on war against corruption," he said during a national address to mark his fifth year of being in office. "Just as we built a prison for the terrorists, we will build one for the corrupt."

"We will fight white-collar criminals wherever they come from," Bukele added, "but we will only use legal means."

Over a year ago, Bukele initiated a harsh campaign against El Salvador's violent gangs, implementing a state of exception that suspended constitutional rights.

While the policy has garnered widespread popular backing, human rights organizations have raised concerns about innocent individuals being affected by the crackdown, Reuters reported.

In February, the government relocated thousands of suspected gang members to a recently established "mega prison."

Bukele also used his speech to announce bills to slim down the country's political system by cutting the number of deputies in the country's unicameral Congress to 60 from 84.

Additionally, he intends to transform the 262 municipalities of the small Central American country into 44 districts.

Bukele mentioned that these bills would require approval from Congress.

Later in his speech, Bukele revealed that a raid was being conducted on the property of former President Alfredo Cristiani. Over a year ago, a court had issued a provisional arrest warrant for Cristiani, alleging his involvement in covering up the murder of six Jesuit priests and two of their staff during the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s.

Bukele announced that a search was being conducted at the property of former President Alfredo Cristiani.

Over a year ago, a court issued a provisional arrest warrant for Cristiani, accusing him of being involved in concealing the murder of six Jesuit priests and two of their staff during El Salvador's civil war in the 1980s.

The address concluded with the crowd at the Congress chanting "re-election."

In March, a newspaper poll revealed that nearly 70% of Salvadorans supported Bukele's attempt for a second term, despite a clear constitutional prohibition on serving consecutive terms.