Honduras Election Gripped by Uncertainty as Trump Intervention Looms Large
Honduras’ presidential election remains on a knife’s edge, with preliminary results revealing a near tie between conservative candidates and overshadowed by former US President Donald Trump’s controversial last-minute endorsements and pledge of a pardon.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) reported on Monday, after counting ballots from 55% of voting centers, that businessman “Tito” Nasry Asfura, representing the National Party, secured 40% of the vote. Trailing closely behind was Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, with 39.78%. Rixi Moncada, from the ruling leftist Libertad y Refoundación (Libre) party, lagged in third place with 19.18%.
Both Asfura and Nasralla cautiously avoided declaring victory Sunday night, acknowledging the closeness of the race. Initial excitement at campaign headquarters quickly subsided, and the capital city remained largely quiet as the painstaking vote count continued. The CNE’s initial report was delayed by more than an hour and a half, and nearly five hours after polls closed, raising concerns about transparency.
Asfura, a 67-year-old construction magnate and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, campaigned on a platform of pragmatic governance, emphasizing his infrastructure projects in the capital. His campaign received a significant boost just days before the election when Trump publicly endorsed him, vowing to combat “narco-communists” and stating Asfura was the only Honduran candidate his administration would collaborate with.
Nasralla, a 72-year-old former sports commentator, has navigated a complex political landscape, previously aligning with current President Xiomara Castro’s candidacy four years ago. He positioned himself as an outsider, with a central campaign promise to eradicate corruption. Trump, however, sharply criticized both Nasralla and Moncada in the days leading up to the election, warning that their potential leadership could steer Honduras toward a path similar to Venezuela.
This election marks Asfura’s second attempt at the presidency, following a defeat to Castro in 2021. Nasralla, meanwhile, was vying for the office for the fourth time. The slow pace of the count prompted Asfura to urge CNE advisory members to expedite the announcement of results “for the good of democracy.” Moncada, who, like Nasralla, had voiced concerns about potential fraud during the campaign, announced plans to address the preliminary results at a press conference on Monday.
The CNE has up to 30 days to officially declare the election results. Over six million Hondurans were eligible to vote, not only for the president and vice presidents but also for 128 deputies, their substitutes, and 298 municipal mayors and vice mayors. The election was observed by over 4,000 national and international observers, including representatives from the European Union, the Organization of American States (OAS), and members of the US Congress.
Trump’s intervention extended beyond an endorsement. On Friday, he indicated on his Truth Social account his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former Honduran president currently serving a 45-year sentence in the United States for drug and weapons trafficking. Trump justified the potential pardon, claiming Hernández was “treated very harshly and unfairly” and that his case was politically motivated. “The people of Honduras really believed that they had been set up, and it was a terrible thing,” Trump declared, alleging a “trap by the Biden administration.”
The election’s impact resonated with Honduran citizens. Rubén Darío Molina, a 55-year-old security guard, expressed disillusionment with politicians after being deported from the United States, where he had lived for 20 years. “I don’t believe in politicians,” he said. “Politicians are trash, how they use you as a ladder to ascend.” Conversely, Carlos Alberto Figueroa, a 71-year-old retiree, voiced support for continuing President Castro’s policies, hoping for continued “development, a better economy and security.”
The coming weeks will be critical as the CNE completes its count and Honduras awaits the final outcome of an election deeply influenced by both domestic political currents and the unprecedented intervention of a former US president.
