- The professional educator and pyschologist, Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele, 38, is the wife of the current president of El Salvadore, Nayib Bukele
- She has been actively involved in the political policies of her country, especially the ones that have to do with pregnant women, children, and culture
- The mother-of-one is often regarded as the right-hand-man of her husband
Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele is the wife of the 43rd president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. As a child. Gabriela showed an interest in ballet. Ever since she has been part of the dance company Fundación ballet de El Salvador.
Before she became the first lady of El Salvador, she worked as a prenatal psychologist in a private clinic. Nayib Bukele’s wife helped create projects in support of women and culture during her time as a Municipal Secretary.
The current first lady of El Salvador has also been actively involved in her country’s politics. After her husband won the election in the 2019 Salvadoran presidential election.
Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele Has Jewish Roots
Often referred to as a millennial first lady, Nayib Bukele’s wife was born on the 31st of March 1985 in San Salvador, El Salvador. Her father José Roberto Rodríguez Trabanino is a Salvadoran investor while her mother, Arena Perezalonso de Rodríguez once served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in El Salvador. Gabriela is the youngest of four daughters of her parents.
According to reports, the first lady’s birth name is Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez Perezalons and she has Sephardic Jewish ancestry as well as Nicaraguan ancestry on her mother’s side.
Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele Has Been Married to Nayib Bukele for 8 Years
There are speculations that the El Salvadoran president and his wife started dating in 2004. A decade later, the lovers tied the knot on December 6, 2014, at a private venue in El Boqueron Street in the San Salvador Volcano. The duo’s marriage was done shortly before Nayib became mayor of the capital.
Ever since the pair got married, they have been in the spotlight for their regular show of affection and support for each other. In the words of President Nayib, Gabriela complements him and vice versa. He once revealed that he trusts his wife and believes in their future together.
Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele’s Daughter Was Born after Her Husband Won the Elections in 2019
Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele and her husband announced they were expecting their first child together in January 2019 in the middle of the campaign for the presidency. The couple shared an image of themselves with the caption ‘Waiting for Layla’.
The president shared the name of their child even before she was born. He revealed their daughter would be called Layla during his inauguration ceremony on June 1 at the Gerardo Barrios square, in the center of San Salvador. On 15 August 2019, Layla was born at the Military Hospital in El Salvador.
Following the birth of Layla, Gabriela and Nayib received several congratulatory messages from well-wishers in the country and beyond.
Here are Some Intriguing Facts about Nayib Bukele’s Wife, Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele
1. She Showed an Interest in Ballet at an Early Age
Although not much is known about the first Lady’s upbringing, it is said that she started dancing as a child. She is said to be part of the Fundacion Ballet de El Salvador dance company.
Aside from being a professional ballet dancer, the wife of El Salvadore’s president has helped promote the creation of the secretariat of the culture of San Salvador. The organization is in charge of promoting the artistic scene of the country.
2. The 38-year-old First Lady is a Trained Educator
Nayib Bukele’s wife has a doctorate in Prenatal Psychology and has reportedly worked for several years as a therapist for parents and children in a private clinic. In 2018, she was in charge of the creation of the first prenatal education center in the country.
The PrePare center had extensive information on motherhood and also fatherhood. As a representative of the Association of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH), she has worked in support of pregnant women and has worked with the association to provide awareness to women who are not aware of their right to humanized childbirth. Also, Gabriela works to promote safe births and full confidence in receiving dignified treatment.
The Salvadoran first lady also worked as the promoter of the Baby Development enrichment program and social welfare initiative. Just like her husband, she has often shared details about her works on social media.
3. There Has Been Criticism about Her Presence in Her Husband’s Government
Gabriela Rodriguez has in charge of the creation of the Ministry of Culture in El Salvadore. She holds a position in the Ministry of Women as well. This has caused mixed reactions from people but her husband came out to clarify that she does not receive any salary for her work in the ministry.
Notably, a Salvadoran Press businessman by the name of Jose Roberto Dutriz was one of the people that criticized Gabriela’s involvement in government. In her defense, her husband revealed that they were a team and would want to continue working as one.
4. Gabriela Rodriguez’s Husband Served as a Mayor before He was Elected the 43rd President
Nayib Bukele serves as a mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlan for three years from 2012 to 2015. He later became the Mayor of San Salvador for three years starting from 2015 to 2018.
After he won the mayoral elections as a member of the FMLN, he was then expelled from the party. Nayib went on to establish his own political party, Nuevas Ideas but he decided to run for the office of president in the 2019 election under the center-left Democratic Change. However, the party was later dissolved by the Supreme Electoral Court.
He was forced to run under the center-right Grand Alliance for National Unity. After a successful election, it was announced on February 3 that Bukele had won the presidential election. He reportedly won 53 percent of the vote.
Upon winning the election, the father-of-one became the first candidate to win the presidency since the end of the Salvadoran Civil war. He was sworn in and assumed office on June 1 2019 alongside his beautiful wife Gabriela.
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5. Gabriela’s Husband Has Been Accused of Having Negotiations with Gangs
According to reports, a certain website called El Faro accused the president of having secret deals with gangs like Mara Salvatrucha also known as MS-13 in September 2020. The said gang has been labeled as the most powerful gang in the country.
The site also claimed that the government of Nayib was granting more flexible prison conditions for the members of the gang in exchange for less murder rates in the country. Bukele came out to deny the allegations and subsequently launched an investigation on the website on suspicious money laundering grounds.
6. Her Husband’s Religious Views Have Been Questioned in the Past
Nayib Bukele’s paternal grandparents were Christian Palestinians from Jerusalem and Bethlehem. His maternal grandparents were also Christians. However, his father converted to Islam and became an Imam.
The 43rd President of El Salvadore has revealed several times that he does not consider himself a very religious person although he believes in Jesus Christ.
When he first announced his intention to run for the presidency, his religious views were questioned but that did not stop him from winning the election.
7. What is Gabriela Rodríguez De Bukele’s Net Worth?
The office of the first lady of Salvadore comes with quite a number of benefits. Research shows that the president earns about $62,180.64 annually while that of the first lady is not available.
However, since she has worked as a psychologist in the past, she might have earned around $1, 450 to $4,270 since that is the salary range for psychologists in her country. If that is so, then her net worth would be around $500,000 to $1 million.
Meanwhile, it is speculated that her husband has a net worth of about $2 million. Being a crypto enthusiast, it might be possible that the president has accumulated so much money from his bitcoin bidding as well.
The first lady and her husband have given so much to their communities, especially through projects that alleviate women, children, and culture. With the way Gabriela has been handling positions given to her, it would be safe to say that in the nearest future, she might make her husband the first gentleman of El Salvadore.
