Published on Tuesday, November 12, 2024

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

On Monday, President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles bestowed Nayib Armando Bukele-Ortez, El Salvador's re-elected president, with the Juan Rafael Mora Porras Distinction in recognition of his efforts to reduce crime in his country.

The award was established in honor of Juan Mora Fernández (1784-1854), Costa Rica's first elected president, who served from 1824 to 1833.

"El Salvador was freed from gangs, and that achievement gave peace to our nation," said Chaves, justifying his choice to bestow the medal representing Costa Rica's highest honor for a foreigner. "The fight against criminal groups in Central America deserves recognition," he added.

"Governments cannot compete with organized crime," said Bukele in his speech after receiving the distinction. "Therefore, the State must intervene and enforce its monopoly  over organized crime."

Bukele met with Chaves in the Presidential House in Zapote District, San José, to begin his schedule of meetings with ministers and other government representatives.

On Tuesday, Bukele will attend President Chaves' work session with his government team at the Jorge Arturo Montero Castro correctional institution, previously known as La Reforma jail, in Alajuela Province.

El Salvador's presidential visit has caused criticism because it does not include meetings with Congress or the Supreme Court of Justice.

Concerns were raised by lawmakers and judges about the separation of powers alleged abuses of constitutional rights and restriction on press freedom in El Salvador.

Bukele (43) has served as El Salvador's 81st president since June 1, 2019. He raced for re-election in 2024 and won with more than 85% of the vote after the Supreme Court modified the constitution's prohibition on successive re-elections.

He implemented the Territorial Control Plan in July 2019, an anti-gang effort aimed at lowering the country's 2019 murder rate of 38 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The country's murder rate fell to 2.4 per 100,000 in 2023, making it the second-lowest in the Americas, behind Canada, according to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security of El Salvador statement.

In June 2024, Chaves and First Lady Signe Zeikate attended the inauguration of Bukele's re-election, extending the presidency as Central American president for another five years.

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