Hondurans have started voting for a new president, facing a backdrop of tension fueled by a warning from US President Donald Trump. Trump threatened to cut aid to Honduras if voters fail to support the right-wing candidate, Nasry “Tito” Asfura, of the National Party. Just days before the election on November 26, 2023, Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, urging for a victory for Asfura to combat what he described as “narco-communism.” He stated, “If he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad.”
Approximately 6.5 million citizens are eligible to cast their votes to select a successor to left-wing President Xiomara Castro, who has held office since January 2022. As the election unfolded, opposition candidate Rixi Moncada of the Libre party emphasized the resilience of the Honduran electorate, asserting, “The Honduran people will head to the polls despite adverse circumstances.”
The political landscape is fraught with tension as three main candidates vie for the presidency. Alongside Moncada and Asfura, Salvador Nasralla, a conservative television host and former vice president, represents the Liberal Party. The campaign has seen accusations of manipulation from both government and opposition figures, echoing the unrest that followed the 2017 elections, which resulted in over 20 deaths due to protests against alleged electoral fraud.
Voters are also tasked with selecting a new parliament and local authorities, amid pressing issues such as poverty, drug violence, and corruption that continue to plague the nation. Initial results from the election are expected by 21:00 local time, with Moncada indicating she would not accept preliminary electronic results, awaiting the final count of paper ballots instead.
President Castro, Honduras’ first female head of state and the wife of former president Manuel Zelaya, has faced significant challenges during her tenure. Her administration is marked by the legacy of the National Party, which ruled for over a decade following Zelaya’s ousting in a 2009 coup. The National Party is also associated with Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president currently serving a 45-year sentence in the US for drug trafficking. Trump recently announced he would consider a pardon for Hernández.
The outcome of this election will not only determine the next leader of Honduras but also reflect the broader implications of US foreign policy in Central America, particularly regarding aid and political alignment. As voters make their choices, the world watches closely, aware that the results could shape the country’s future amidst ongoing challenges.
