PANews reported on August 29 that according to TIME, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele became the cover star of the latest issue of Time magazine. Time magazine wrote in its article "How Nayib Bukele's 'Iron Fist' Changed El Salvador" that Bukele significantly changed the country's situation through his "iron fist" policy. After Bukele took office, he adopted a series of tough measures to combat crime, especially operations against gang organizations, which resulted in a significant drop in violent crime rates. However, these measures have also sparked controversy over human rights and the rule of law, with critics arguing that the government's methods are too harsh. Although Bukele's policies have brought about short-term security improvements, the long-term effects and full impact on society remain to be seen.
The article said Bukele had made a series of gambles that were not welcomed by many foreign investors and creditors, including adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and investing part of the national reserves in the cryptocurrency. The article also called his Bitcoin gamble a stumbling block.