The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, once again turned to internet language to explain the results of his security policy, using the popular meme "three Doritos later" as a metaphor for the change his country is experiencing following the crackdown on gangs.
During a public intervention shared on his social media, Bukele commented that Salvadorans use that expression to describe how quickly the authorities act now in response to a common crime.
"There is a phrase in El Salvador that Salvadorans use on social media, called 'three Doritos later.' When there's a video of a lady who had her purse snatched, three hours later they already have the man handcuffed, wearing the same clothes as in the video, and he's going to jail," he recounted.
The president emphasized that this kind of immediate response reflects the transformation of the country in terms of security and justice, after decades of impunity and the dominance of violent gangs. “Now we have a justice system that will put him in prison, without a doubt,” he added.
The reference to the meme —a phrase often accompanying viral clips to depict sudden changes in a humorous tone— has been celebrated by his supporters as a demonstration of the Salvadoran president's connection to popular culture and social media, which is one of the foundations of his political communication.
Since the implementation of the state of emergency in 2022, Bukele has managed to drastically reduce homicides and violent crimes, although human rights organizations have raised concerns about the cost to civil liberties.
Even so, his "tough on crime" policy maintains high approval ratings, and the president himself presents it as an example of how "a country can go from chaos to peace... three Doritos later."
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