Heavily-armed soldiers backed El Salvador’s president in storming the country’s parliament on Sunday — in an effort to force lawmakers into sign a $109 million loan for the military to fight violent gangs.

President Nayib Bukele, 38, had called for the heavy-handed backing as he headed into an extraordinary hearing aimed at pushing through the loan.

Armed police joined soldiers with automatic weapons and body armor in standing guard for Bukele, who took a seat reserved for the president of the congress as he prayed for patience with lawmakers who failed to show.

He then gave the “good-for-nothing” lawmakers another week to return next Sunday and finally approve the loan he says would fund much-needed military equipment to fight gangs that plague the nation.

“If we wanted to press the button, we would press the button” and remove lawmakers from the legislature, he told supporters.

The funds would buy a helicopter, police cars, uniforms, night-vision goggles and other equipment, including a video surveillance system in a country plagued by gangs and high crime, Bukele’s administration says.

Opponents have questioned the huge amount and exact details of how it will be spent.

The opposition FMLN party said Bukele needed to “stop his threats which are typical of a dictatorship.”

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