SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) Salvadorans packed the capitals central square Sunday evening to celebrate the expected reelection of Nayib Bukele as president even before any official results were announced.

With soaring approval ratings and virtually no competition, Nayib Bukele was almost certainly headed for a second 5-year term as president. After voting, he jousted with reporters, asserting that the elections results would serve as a referendum on his administration.

Two hours after polling places closed, and without any official returns announced, Bukele said on the platform X that according to our numbers he had won. Preliminary official results were not expected before late Sunday.

Many voters expressed willingness Sunday to forego some elements of democracy if it means keeping gang violence at bay.

El Salvadors constitution prohibits reelection. But a fter his party was victorious in 2021 legislative elections , the newly elected congress purged the countrys constitutional court , replacing judges with loyalists. They later ruled that Bukele could run for a second term. Critics say he has chipped away at the countrys system of checks and balances.

On Sunday night, Bukeles face was plastered on much of downtown San Salvadors main square, on flags, shirts and life-size billboard cutouts.

Delya Rodriguez joined hundreds of people already celebrating in San Salvadors main plaza, wearing a T-shirt with Bukeles face on it reading Everyone for re-election.