Childhood and Education Journey of Nayib Bukele in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Nayib Bukele, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Nayib Bukele is the current president of El Salvador, serving since June 1, 2019. Prior to his presidency, Bukele was a businessman and politician. He is known for his unconventional governing style and use of social media. Some of his key policies include a crackdown on gang violence and the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender. Bukele's administration has faced both praise for reducing crime rates and criticism for its authoritarian tendencies and potential human rights violations.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1921: Paternal Grandparents Immigration to El Salvador

In 1921, Nayib Bukele's paternal grandparents, who were Palestinian Christians, immigrated to El Salvador from Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

July 1981: Nayib Bukele's Birth

In July 1981, Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez was born. He would later become the 81st president of El Salvador.

July 1981: Birth of Nayib Bukele

On July 24, 1981, Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez was born in San Salvador, El Salvador.

1999: Completed Secondary Education

In 1999, at the age of 18, Nayib Bukele completed his secondary education at the Escuela Panamericana.

2011: Announced Entry into Politics

In 2011, Nayib Bukele announced that he would enter politics as a member of the FMLN.

March 2012: Elected Mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán

On March 11, 2012, Nayib Bukele was elected mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán with 51.67 percent of the vote.

May 2012: Took Office as Mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán

On May 1, 2012, Nayib Bukele took office as the country's youngest mayor.

December 2014: Bukele marries Gabriela Rodríguez

On December 6, 2014, Nayib Bukele married psychologist and ballet dancer Gabriela Rodríguez.

March 2015: Elected Mayor of San Salvador

On 1 March 2015, Nayib Bukele defeated Edwin Zamora with 50.38 percent of the vote to become the mayor of San Salvador.

2015: Elected Mayor of San Salvador

In 2015, Nayib Bukele was elected mayor of San Salvador, serving until 2018.

2015: Death of Father, Armando Bukele Kattán

In 2015, Nayib Bukele's father, Armando Bukele Kattán, passed away.

June 2016: Renamed 89 Avenida Norte in Honor of Castellanos

In June 2016, as mayor, Nayib Bukele renamed 89 Avenida Norte in honor of José Arturo Castellanos, who provided fake Salvadoran passports to Central European Jews during the Holocaust.

2017: Ousted from the FMLN and Founded Nuevas Ideas Party

In 2017, Nayib Bukele was ousted from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). Shortly afterward, he founded the Nuevas Ideas political party.

February 2018: Attended International Mayors Conference in Jerusalem

In February 2018, Nayib Bukele attended the 32nd International Mayors Conference in Jerusalem and prayed at the Western Wall.

June 2019: Inauguration as President of El Salvador

On June 1, 2019, Nayib Bukele became the 81st and current president of El Salvador.

June 2019: First Presidential Inauguration

On June 1, 2019, Nayib Bukele's first presidential inauguration was held at the National Palace. He became the 81st and the youngest president of El Salvador at the age of 37. He announced a sixteen-person cabinet composed of eight men and eight women.

July 2019: Implemented Territorial Control Plan

In July 2019, Nayib Bukele implemented the Territorial Control Plan to reduce El Salvador's homicide rate.

December 2019: Honorary Doctorate from Beijing International Studies University

In December 2019, Beijing International Studies University awarded Bukele an honorary doctoral degree.

February 2020: Agreement with Guatemala on Border Restrictions

In February 2020, Bukele and the Guatemalan government signed an agreement to remove border crossing restrictions between El Salvador and Guatemala and to designate flights between the two countries as domestic flights to promote tourism. The agreement allowed Bukele's government to potentially build a port on the Caribbean Sea in Guatemalan territory, giving El Salvador access to the Atlantic Ocean.

February 2020: Ordered Soldiers into Legislative Assembly

In February 2020, Nayib Bukele ordered 40 soldiers into the Legislative Assembly building to intimidate lawmakers into approving a US$109 million loan for the Territorial Control Plan.

2021: Allies Won Supermajority and Replaced Key Officials

After Nuevas Ideas won a supermajority in the 2021 legislative election, Nayib Bukele's allies in the legislature voted to replace the attorney general and all five justices of the Supreme Court of Justice's Constitutional Chamber.

2021: Promotion of Surf City

In 2021, Bukele designated part of El Salvador's Pacific coastline in the La Libertad Department as "Surf City" and the country hosted the ISA World Surfing Games.

2021: Bitcoin Became Legal Tender

In 2021, Nayib Bukele passed a law that made bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador and has promoted plans to build Bitcoin City.

2021: Views on Emigration

In 2021, during an interview on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight, Bukele discussed emigration from Central America to the United States, attributing it to the region's lack of economic opportunity and security, describing the level of emigration to the United States as immoral.

March 2022: Nationwide Crackdown on Gangs Initiated

After 87 people were killed by gangs over one weekend in March 2022, Nayib Bukele initiated a nationwide crackdown on gangs, resulting in numerous arrests.

January 2023: Announcement of Hosting Miss Universe 2023

In January 2023, Bukele announced that El Salvador would host the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, the first time since 1975.

February 2023: CID-Gallup opinion poll on corruption

In February 2023, a CID-Gallup opinion poll indicated that only four percent of Salvadorans considered corruption to be the country's most pressing issue.

May 2023: PAHO declared the end of the pandemic

On 5 May 2023, the Pan American Health Organization declared the end of the pandemic.

June 2023: Legislative Assembly Approved Municipality and Seat Reduction

In June 2023, the Legislative Assembly approved Nayib Bukele's proposals to reduce the number of municipalities from 262 to 44 and the number of seats in the legislature from 84 to 60.

2023: Birth of Bukele's second daughter

In 2023, Bukele and his wife Gabriela Rodríguez had their second daughter.

2023: Hosting ISA World Surfing Games and Central American and Caribbean Games

In 2023, El Salvador hosted the ISA World Surfing Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games. At the tournament's opening ceremony, Bukele responded to critics by asserting that he was not a dictator.

June 2024: Second Presidential Inauguration

On June 1, 2024, Bukele's second presidential inauguration took place at the National Palace, featuring a military parade. Bukele evoked Simón Bolívar by wearing a Napoleonic-cut jacket and considered the event "the most important moment in our recent history".

July 2024: Bukele launches Bean of Fire coffee brand

In July 2024, Bukele launched the Bean of Fire coffee brand and began donating coffee beans grown on his farm to local businesses.

December 2024: Arrests in Gang Crackdown Reach Over 85,000

By December 2024, the nationwide crackdown on gangs initiated by Nayib Bukele had resulted in the arrests of over 85,000 people with alleged gang affiliations.