Honduras Waiting for Election Results
Honduras has reached a week without any final results from the National Electoral Commission (CNE) regarding the presidential election held on November 30. Initial estimates suggest that around 3.7 million voters participated, but the process has been complicated by delays in vote counting that remain incomplete as of now.
The main candidates include Nasry Asfura from the conservative Honduran National Party, former Vice President Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, and Rixi Moncada from the far-left Libre party, which currently governs under President Xiomara Castro. A few days ahead of the election, Asfura received a letter of support from Donald Trump, stirring up some criticism from both Nasralla and Moncada.
According to preliminary CNE results, Asfura and Nasralla are neck-and-neck, with new results coming in almost daily, while Moncada trails significantly in third place. Reports indicate that Moncada has not posed a serious challenge to the front runners, as noted by the local newspaper El Heraldo.
The CNE has faced criticism for the sluggish pace of the vote counting, citing various “technical issues” that slowed the tallying process multiple times since November 30. Currently, approximately 88 percent of the votes have been counted, and as of now, Asfura is leading Nasralla by about 20,000 votes. However, another delay has emerged due to allegations of “fraud” in 14 percent of the tallies, necessitating manual verification.
CNE Director Ana Paola Hall announced early Monday that counting was set to resume shortly, pending an external audit. Hall emphasized the importance of voters’ behavior on election day and reassured that the CNE would remain committed to a transparent process until the official results are announced.
As the two candidates remain closely tied, the uncertainty continues. Asfura currently holds a slight edge, but fluctuations in the counts have kept the situation dynamic. In response to the delays, Trump recently made comments on social media, criticizing the slow process and hinting at potential chaos if results were altered.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has also expressed concerns about the delays, underlining the need for transparent election processes. He remarked that Honduran citizens deserve their voices to be heard and the elections to reflect the people’s will.
Trump’s support for Asfura has sparked controversy, especially with Nasralla dismissing it as an unfair last-minute intervention that could jeopardize his chances. Nasralla argued that the CNE’s issues indicated potential electoral fraud and cited significant discrepancies in vote counts that have disrupted the process.
Moncada has been vocal in her criticism of Trump, alleging interference in the electoral process. She stated she would not accept the election results, suggesting that the legitimacy of the eventual winner would remain in question.
The ruling Socialist Libre party has strongly condemned Trump’s influence, threatening to distance themselves from any officials collaborating with forces they deem adversarial to democracy. The political situation in Honduras remains highly charged, filled with uncertainty and sharp divisions among candidates and their supporters.
