El Salvador's president maintains a commanding 80% approval rating—numbers most leaders can only dream of. Yet whispers of potential discontent heading into 2026 might be just that: whispers.

Bukele's grip on power seems almost unshakeable at this point. The real question isn't whether criticism will emerge, but whether it'll actually matter when votes are counted. His Bitcoin gamble, controversial as it's been globally, hasn't tanked his domestic support. If anything, the crypto experiment has become intertwined with his political brand.

Opposition voices may grow louder as the next election cycle approaches, but translating frustration into actual political consequences? That's a different game entirely. When you're sitting on approval numbers like these, the math just works in your favor—even if the economic data tells a more complicated story.