Social Organizations reject the actions of the Legislative Assembly, placing at risk peace and the wellbeing of Salvadorans

We, the undersigned social organizations which represent thousands of our compatriots, condemn the removal of the justices of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General of the Republic of El Salvador by the new Legislative Assembly given that it is an illegal and unconstitutional act with the dangerous intent of centralizing power in one person and one political party in opposition to the common good. We know, by virtue of our own experience, that the concentration of power only generates pain and suffering for our people and we do not want to see history repeats itself.

We do not seek to defend specific people; our intent is to defend the Rule of Law that ensures human rights for the entire population. The action by the members of the Legislative Assembly who voted to remove constitutionally elected authorities generates instability and conflict in the country, reduces the possibility of human and economic development, and increases the risk of human rights violations. El Salvador does not need this.

The Salvadoran population wants change in the actions of politicians. This is the reason why it voted for a party that offered new ideas, but the events of May 1^st do not reflect these hopes. Acting without respect for the law is a reversal of the country’s progress towards the construction of democracy.

Therefore,

• We demand that the Legislative Assembly and President Nayib Bukele restore the democratic order of the country, and that they abstain from continuing with these mistaken actions that only place in danger the wellbeing and peace that has been so difficult to attain.

• We ask civil society organizations and our sisters and brothers from other nations to accompany us in these difficult moments and to pressure your governments to speak up in favor of the Rule of Law and the respect for human rights in El Salvador.

• We appeal to international organizations and friendly countries to observe what is happening in our country and to call upon the Government and the Legislative Assembly to respect democratic processes and principles.

• Many in this country believe that what is happening does not affect them directly, but they are mistaken. The destruction of democracy will harm us all, sooner or later. There is no excuse for inaction. If we remain silent now, it will make us complicit to what happens next.  For this reason, we invite the Salvadoran people to refrain from recognizing the legitimacy of  the public officials who were elected to replace the Supreme Court justices and the Attorney General.  The people want changes that deepen democracy and bring social justice. They did not elect a different body to exert power for their own interests.

San Salvador, May 3, 2021

• Acción Ciudadana
• Aliados por la Democracia
• Alianza Américas
• Alianza Ciudadana contra la privatización de la Salud
• Alianza Nacional contra la Privatización del Agua
• Articulación Nacional de Comunidades Eclesiales de Base en El Salvador
• Asociación Ameyalli (
• Asociación Agrupación Ciudadana por la Despenalización del Aborto
• Asociación Azúl Originario
• Asociación de Capacitación e Investigación para la Salud, Acisam
• Asociación Nuevo Amanecer de El Salvador, Anades
• Asociación Creciendo Juntas
• Asociación de Estudiantes de Derecho de la UCA, Aseduca
• Asociación de Periodistas de El Salvador,
• Asociación de Radios y Programas Participativos de El Salvador, Arpas
• Asociación Transparencia, Contraloría Social y Datos Abiertos, Tracoda
• Cámara de Comercio e Industria de El Salvador
• Círculo Académico de Análisis Político, CAAP
• Colectiva Amorales
• Colectiva Feminista
• Colectivo La Comuna
• Colectivo Herberth Anaya Sanabria
• Consejo de Educación Popular de América Latina y El Caribe
• Comité de Ex-Presos y Presas Políticos de El Salvador, Coppes
• Comunidades de Fe Organizadas para la Acción, Cofoa
• Coordinadora Salvadoreña de Movimientos Populares
• Cristosal
• Democracia, Transparencia y Justicia, DTJ
• Escuelas de Formación Política y Ciudadana (EFPC) de Centroamérica
• Foro del Agua de El Salvador
• Foro Nacional de Salud
• Fundación para el Debido Proceso, DPLF
• Fundación para el Desarrollo de Centroamérica, Fudecen
• Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias Sociales, Fudecso
• Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho, Fespad
• Fundación Hermano Mercedes Ruiz, Fundahmer
• Fundación Nacional para el Desarrollo, Funde
• Fundación Share Internacional
• Futuro Abierto
• Generación Romero
• Iglesia Episcopal Anglicana
• Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreña
• Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales, Icefi
• Instituto Holandés por la Democracia Multipartidaria, NIMD El Salvador
• Líderes Solidarios
• Mesa de las Iglesias Históricas de El Salvador
• Mesa por la Soberanía Alimentaria
• Movimiento de ONGD para el Desarrollo Solidario de El Salvador, Modes
• Movimiento “Todo por la República”
• Ni una menos El Salvador
• Oficina de Justicia, Paz e Integridad de la Creación, JPIC El Salvador
• Panorama Económico
• Red de Defensoras de Derechos Humanos
• Salvadoreñxs construyendo memoria
• Servicio de Comunidades de Base, Sercoba
• Servicio Social Pasionista, SSPAS
• Tutela Legal Dra. María Julia Hernández
• Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas