Nayib Bukele

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez (born 24 July 1981) is a Salvadoran politician who has been President of El Salvador since 2019. He previously served as Mayor of San Salvador, the capital city, from 2015 to 2018.

Early life and career

Bukele was born in San Salvador on 24 July 1981. His mother is María Leonor Ortez de Bukele, while his father is Roberto Orlando Bukele Kattán, an immigrant from Lebanon who arrived in El Salvador at the age of 17 and founded several businesses there including a steel factory that he built with his brothers. Nayib studied business administration at Universidad Francisco Gavidia and later received an MBA from ESE Business School in Madrid. After completing his studies he worked for a time as marketing manager for Procter & Gamble before returning to El Salvador where he managed various family-owned companies involved in construction, telecommunications and media production among others; one such company was La Cadena Multimedia which owned four radio stations across the country until it went bankrupt during 2012 due to unpaid debts owed by its parent company Nuevo Grupo Horizonte S.A..

Political career

Before joining politics Nayib held roles within non governmental organizations focused on youth education projects at local level throughout different regions around El Salvador prior to being elected mayor of Antiguo Cuscatlán municipality located east part of metropolitan area surrounding San salvador known as Gran San Miguelito during 2011 elections representing Nationalist Republican Alliance party (ARENA). In 2014 changed parties affiliations becoming member off Farabundo Martí Front Liberation Nationals(FMLN), when decided faced once again municipal election this time claiming victory against ARENA candidate obtaining 64% votes over 34%. This paved way towards mayoral candidacy representing FMLN political group running successfully against candidates supported by ruling right wing government coalition “Alianza Republicana Centroamericana” or ARC backed up by two main conservative forces: Arena y Unidad despite facing controversial smear campaigns headed mainly by former president Tony Saca . Under new mandate modernized public transport system allowing free access Sundays , implemented better lighting schemes reducing crime rates along major avenues apart addressing infrastructural needs like water drainage systems , bridges amongst other social policies benefiting citizens living under poverty line . However not all efforts were successful specially technical changes made into garbage collection without taking into account people working informally collecting recyclable materials out waste dumps thus affecting their livelihoods directly plus causing massive delays leaving large areas unserviced due result lack funds make necessary adjustments program complying resulting increased costs associated services leading serious issues within urban environment concerning environmental health hazards caused pollution levels generated decaying organic matter left streets long periods waiting collection trucks arrive pick them up properly disposed accordingly according law standards established authorities past administrations dealing sanitation matters though most recently measures taken aim tackling problem effectively efficiently resulted positive gains cleaning activities conducted both private sector volunteers more than 30 tons trash removed recent clean ups carried cities Santa Ana Sonsonate Zacatecoluca Acajutla entailing considerable improvement quality air breathing population living those locations overall contributing reduce hazardous gases emissions produced burning combustible fuels poor households relying firewood traditional cooking methods