El Salvador's miracle recovery from being a Narco State has Bukele extremely popular. So far, El Salvador is the only state I am aware of that has recovered from being a Narco State.
Strong support for third term for Bukele, despite constitutional ban
June 23 (UPI) -- Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele begins his seventh year in office with strong public backing, including majority support for a third consecutive term, despite a constitutional ban on re-election, according to a new poll by the University Institute of Public Opinion at José Simeón Cañas Central American University.
The study found that seven in 10 Salvadorans support Bukele seeking a third consecutive term, even though the Constitution prohibits it. Overall, 70.6% said they "agree" or "strongly agree" with a new re-election bid, while 25.4% were opposed.
Paradoxically, 95% of respondents said it is important to respect the country's Constitution.
The apparent contradiction underscores how many Salvadorans prioritize stability and security under President Nayib Bukele's leadership over institutional concerns.
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The poll found that 54.3% of respondents described him as "a president who imposes order with a firm hand," a phrase often tied to his hardline governing style.
Respondents gave Bukele an average rating of 8.15 out of 10, slightly below his score from the previous year. His administration overall received a 7.85, down from 8.28 in 2024.
Public security remains the cornerstone of Bukele's support. About 75.2% of those surveyed said improved safety is the country's greatest current achievement, while 66.6% cited his security policy as the administration's main accomplishment.
Since 2022, the government has enforced a state of emergency aimed at dismantling street gangs -- a measure authorities say has sharply reduced homicides and extortion. The policy remains widely supported, with 66.8% of respondents backing its continuation.
Bukele has built his image on that success. "I'd rather be called a dictator than see Salvadorans killed in the streets," he said in a recent speech, defending his controversial security measures against international criticism.
Despite those gains, the economy remains the administration's most pressing challenge. About 39.2% of Salvadorans identified it as the country's top problem, followed by 15.3% who cited unemployment. Another 10.1% pointed to the high cost of living, and 5% mentioned poverty -- with nearly 70% overall naming economic hardship as the nation's most urgent concern.
Despite large government investments in infrastructure and flagship projects, rising prices for basic goods and limited economic opportunities continue to concern the public. A lack of access to adequate housing also stands out among social issues, with 87 out of every 100 people saying it is difficult or very difficult to buy or rent a home in El Salvador.
These concerns reflect rising inflation in recent years and persistently low wages for many workers. While the desire to emigrate has declined, it remains present among roughly 14% of Salvadorans -- often tied to the search for better living conditions.
Bukele's government has faced criticism over human rights and democratic standards, both domestically and internationally.
In just over two years, more than 78,000 people have been arrested in anti-gang operations, pushing the prison population to record levels. Authorities say about 2.5% of all Salvadoran adults are now incarcerated.
While the government says most of those arrested are gang members or collaborators, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented thousands of cases of arbitrary detention, as well as reports of torture, abuse in prisons, forced disappearances and deaths of inmates in state custody during this period.
Some Salvadorans have also raised concerns over the government's harsh tactics. The UCA poll found that 58% of respondents said they are afraid to express political views critical of the government, fearing reprisals. Forty-eight out of 100 believe someone who criticizes the president could be detained or imprisoned -- a reflection of growing tension around civil liberties.
Independent media outlets have reported surveillance through government spyware, while domestic NGOs face stigmatization and some opposition figures have gone into exile, citing fears of prosecution. The government has rejected those allegations.
Even so, independent polling firms CID Gallup and TResearch show Bukele's approval remains high, with ratings between 80% and 90% throughout 2024 and 2025 -- unusually strong support for a leader at this stage of a presidency.
In Brazil, millionaires almost outnumber child prostitutes
Number of Brazilian millionaires rises to nearly 400,000
June 24 (UPI) -- Brazil leads Latin America in the number of millionaires, with nearly 400,000 residents holding a net worth of $1 million or more, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025. The country ranks first in the region and 19th globally.
The UBS report estimates that 380,585 Brazilians had a net worth of at least $1 million in 2024, a figure projected to rise to nearly 470,000 by 2028. Along with Mexico and Chile, Brazil is helping drive wealth growth across Latin America, reflecting the region's economic resilience and a more sophisticated investment market.
Amazing, Argentina's miracle financial recovery doesn't deserve a mention. Neither does the fact that Brazil has been involved in BRICS from the beginning. This report was written from 'woke' perspective.
The report also introduces the concept of "everyday millionaires," or EMILLIs -- individuals with assets between $1 million and $5 million. This group has quadrupled in size globally since 2000 and now controls a significant share of global wealth. In Brazil, they represent a growing segment of the country's wealth base.
Above the EMILLIs are "ultra-high-net-worth individuals"with more than $30 million in assets, and at the top, Brazil's wealthiest families. These groups hold a substantial share of the country's total wealth and are the primary beneficiaries of exclusive investment opportunities, both domestically and internationally.
Several factors are fueling Brazil's surge in millionaire households. The country has maintained a degree of macroeconomic stability in recent years, boosting investor confidence and creating favorable conditions for capital accumulation.
With a large population and robust domestic consumption, Brazil offers a dynamic market for businesses. That environment has opened doors for entrepreneurs and investors to generate wealth across multiple sectors.
Agribusiness, technology, renewable energy and finance have all seen strong growth, benefiting a growing number of investors.
Brazil's financial market has also expanded, offering a broader range of investment products. This has allowed wealthy families to diversify their portfolios and improve returns.
Foreign direct investment across key sectors has further contributed to Brazil's economic momentum and wealth creation.
Looking ahead, the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 forecasts a massive global transfer of wealth over the next two decades, with more than $83 trillion expected to pass from one generation to the next. Of that, nearly $9 trillion is projected to change hands in Brazil-more than any country except the United States and China.
This generational shift presents both opportunity and risk. It could inject capital into the economy and help finance new ventures, but it also poses challenges in wealth management and succession.
A 2025 report by Forbes Brasil identifies the country's leading family fortunes. At the top are the Moreira Salles brothers, with an estimated $26 billion, followed by the Marinho family (Grupo Globo) and the Setubal family (Itaúsa).
According to the Institute for Mobility and Social Development, nearly half of Brazil's 95 wealthiest families in 2022 were not on the list a decade earlier. Among the newcomers are the Batista family (JBS), Krigsner family (Grupo Boticário), and Billi family (Eurofarma), highlighting upward mobility in emerging industries.
In 2024, Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook, became the wealthiest Brazilian in history, with an estimated fortune of $38 billion. He ranked 44th globally, surpassing longtime billionaires Jorge Paulo Lemann and the Safra family.
Brazil deserves a lot of credit for their financial growth, and I applaud them. There is one big fly in the ointment though. There are probably as many children on the streets of Brazil selling their little bodies to feed themselves and their siblings, as there are millionaires.
Brazil has got to find a way to help the much larger, poorer end of the population, not just the wealthy.How about if the millionaires each adopted a destitute family or two where the children are prostituting themselves? How about they get the kids off the streets and into schools?
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