Nai Bogele: The New President of El Salvador

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Nai Bogele was the president who made Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador. He portrays himself as very cool, you know, jeans, baseball caps and other people he meets are in suits. And he curates this image of being an outsider who just gets stuff done. His initial strategy is similar to past administrations: Make a pact with the gangs to cut down on violence.

A country that was not long ago gripped by gang violence and crime is slowly emerging from fear, thanks to a brutal roundup of young men by a wildly popular, social-media-savvy president. The streets may be safer, but now it is El Salvador’s democracy that is in danger—and neighbouring countries’ leaders may take lessons from its budding autocrat.

For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer