El Salvador's proposed 'foreign agent' law may impact press freedom

In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele has proposed a law that requires people and organizations receiving foreign funding to register as foreign agents.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele | Image credits: REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

Bukele enjoys high popularity two years into his term. A sweeping victory by his supporters earlier this year allowed his party to take control of the Legislative Assembly. As a result, the new congress immediately replaced the justices of the Supreme Court's constitutional chamber, as well as the attorney general, who had proved to be obstacles to Bukele's plans.

Those who do register will pay a 40% tax on all "transactions originating from foreign sources."​ According to the proposed law, "foreign agents" are prevented from transmitting information to the public that represents a foreign interest without explicitly declaring it is a foreign interest.

The legislation is expected to be debated by the Salvadoran legislature, where the Nuevas Ideas party holds majority control. It is proposed that people or organizations that do not register could face legal action, which the law defines vaguely as "the impediment of performing their work."