Honduras Election in Stalemate as Former President Released

Honduras is experiencing a tense electoral standoff as vote counting continues, revealing a near tie between presidential candidates Nasry Asfura of the National Party and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party. This situation developed on December 2, 2023, just days after a contentious election marked by significant political interference from the United States.

As the count progresses, preliminary results indicate that both candidates have secured just under 40 percent of the vote, with Asfura leading by a mere 515 votes. Rixi Moncada, representing the ruling LIBRE Party, trails significantly in third place with only 19 percent. The electoral authority, known as CNE, has labeled this situation a “technical tie,” urging citizens to remain calm while electoral workers manually verify the tallies.

On December 1, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, was released from a U.S. prison after serving time for drug trafficking and firearms charges. His release, confirmed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, coincided with Donald Trump endorsing Asfura and promising to pardon Hernandez if he regained power. A White House official later verified that Trump did indeed pardon Hernandez.

The election witnessed high voter turnout, characterized as peaceful by the Organisation of American States, which monitored the process. In a statement, the organization noted that voting proceeded smoothly despite isolated incidents in some areas. Nonetheless, there are growing concerns about the potential for unrest as tensions rise in light of the close results.

Trump’s involvement in the electoral process has drawn criticism. On December 1, he took to social media to allege, without evidence, that the election results were being manipulated. He warned that any attempts to alter the election outcome would result in serious consequences, expressing confidence in the number of voters who participated on November 30.

As tensions mount, issues with the online portal for result updates have further fueled frustration. The website experienced significant downtime, prompting criticism from local media and politicians. The CNE acknowledged these technical difficulties, stating that some ballots had yet to be processed and would now communicate results directly to media and political parties.

Former president Manuel Zelaya, husband of current president Xiomara Castro, publicly condemned Trump’s interference, asserting that it aimed to derail Moncada’s campaign. Zelaya emphasized the resilience of Honduran citizens in defending their democratic rights, declaring, “We who fight for liberty are on our feet.”

Despite trailing, Moncada expressed determination on December 2, insisting that the elections were “still not lost” and alleging manipulation by other parties. She also criticized U.S. involvement, reflecting a broader sentiment among many in the country concerned about external influence on domestic affairs.

In a tightly contested race, the outcome remains uncertain as the electoral body continues its verification process. The unfolding situation will be closely monitored, with the potential for further political ramifications as the nation awaits a definitive resolution.