(Tegucigalpa) Conservative businessman Nasry Asfura, supported by Donald Trump, was declared the winner of the presidential election in Honduras on Wednesday, three weeks after a vote marked by a very small margin and accusations of fraud, marking a return to the right of the country.
Published at 7 h 42
Updated to 21 h 19
joan SUAZO
Agence France-Presse
After four
US Influence Alleged in honduras Election
Honduras is preparing for a presidential election on November 30, amidst accusations of undue influence from the United States. Current President Xiomara Castro has publicly accused the US of attempting to interfere in the election, alleging Washington seeks a candidate favorable to its interests regarding issues like illegal immigration to the United States and strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
The united States is Honduras’ main trading partner, and approximately 2 million Hondurans reside in the US, with remittances from those living abroad representing a third of Honduras’ national GDP.
Prior to the election, Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to Honduras if conservative candidate juan Orlando Asfura was not elected. Furthermore,the former US President pardoned Asfura’s mentor,former President Juan Orlando Hernandez,who was serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States on drug trafficking charges.
(PHOTO JESSICA KOSCIELNIAK, REUTERS – Marco Rubio)
Honduras Election Results Contested Amid Fraud Allegations and Political Polarization
Following a highly contested election, Honduran President-elect Luis Castro faces accusations of fraud from opposing candidates and a deeply polarized nation. The election results have been challenged by Salvador Nasralla, who finished second, and Rixi Moncada, who placed third, both alleging irregularities and interference.
Nasralla publicly denounced the outcome as a “theft,” while Moncada characterized it as a “falsification” and cited “interference” from the United States. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/honduras-opposition-candidate-claims-election-fraud-2023-11-27/ A recount was conducted focusing on polling station records flagged for inconsistencies.
Though, international election observation missions from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU) reported not observing any significant irregularities during the election process. https://www.oas.org/en/presscenter/pressrelease.asp?sCodigo=E077/23
The political climate is further intricate by the ancient role of the Honduran military in national affairs.Former Tegucigalpa mayor Nasry Asfura reportedly secured support from the military, an institution with a long history of intervention in Honduran politics, including the 2009 coup that ousted then-President Manuel Zelaya, husband of current President Xiomara Castro. https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/06/28/honduras-coup-threatens-democracy
Castro has pledged to attract foreign investment and intends to shift Honduras’s foreign policy closer to Taiwan,reversing the decision made by his predecessor to restore relations with China in 2023. https://www.voanews.com/a/honduras-president-elect-promises-closer-ties-with-taiwan/7354999.html
Despite these plans, Castro inherits a country grappling with deep political divisions exacerbated by the disputed election, as well as pervasive issues of drug trafficking and gang violence. The outgoing Castro management attempted to address these security challenges through a state of exception, mirroring a strategy employed by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
Though, this approach has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which allege that the state of exception has led to human rights violations. https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/americas/honduras/
date: 2025-12-24 23:18:00
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