Honduras Presidential Election: Preliminary Results Indicate Close Race
Preliminary information from Honduras’ National Electoral Council (CNE) suggests that conservative candidate Nasry Asufura, who has the support of former President Donald Trump, is leading in the presidential race by a slight margin.
The general election, which took place on Sunday, aimed to select a new president and parliament, following the tenure of outgoing leftist President Xiomara Castro. As of now, official tallies from the election authorities are still pending.
At the outset, around twelve candidates entered the presidential arena, though the spotlight primarily fell on three: Nasry Asufura of the Honduras National Party, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, and Rixi Moncada representing the far-left Freedom and Reestablishment (Libre) Party. Notably, Nasralla was once the vice president until Castro’s resignation in 2024 and later shifted to the Liberal Party.
The CNE plans to share preliminary results Monday morning at 8 a.m. ET. Current counts indicate that, with about 56% of votes processed, Asufura has garnered about 40% while Nasralla trails closely with 39.8%. The gap between them is roughly 4,100 votes, and Moncada is positioned third with 19.2%.
Originally, the CNE aimed to disclose full results at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, but those results have not yet been made public. The reason for this delay hasn’t been clarified, and there are reports of heightened tension at counting centers where party representatives and monitors await updates.
A Honduran newspaper, El Heraldo, aired footage of trucks transporting ballots on Monday morning to continue the counting process at the National Institute of Vocational Training in Tegucigalpa.
Asfura, who is 67, has been endorsed by Trump recently. Last week’s approval saw Trump express support for Asfura, stating that the U.S. would stand behind him if elected. Recently, the CNE issued a reminder to adhere to deadlines as set by electoral law.
Asfura showed irritation over the timing, referencing Article 279 which states that initial results should be disclosed within three hours. He voiced strong frustration, urging the CNE head, Ana Paola Hall, to take action and provide clarity, emphasizing the importance of transparency in democracy.
Meanwhile, the ruling Libre Party has expressed discontent with early results that suggest Moncada may not win. They cited concerns over alleged “hacking” of the results system, condemned by both Moncada and Castro.
Moncada called for vigilance among supporters until all votes are counted. Trump reiterated his backing for Asfura, stating bad leadership can have serious repercussions for any nation. He criticized Moncada, labeling her as connected to communist influences, and underscored the necessity for Hondurans to choose leaders committed to democracy and freedom.
