Key Takeaways
- Nasry Asfura, the conservative candidate for Honduran president backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, was declared the winner of the election with 40.3% of the vote.
- The election results were delayed due to technical issues and manual counting of around 15% of the tally sheets.
- Trump’s support for Asfura was seen as election meddling by opponents, with Nasralla and the ruling LIBRE party condemning his comments.
- Asfura ran on a pro-business platform emphasizing jobs, education, and security, and may swap Honduras’ allegiance to Taiwan.
- The results were met with rejection from Nasralla and the head of the Honduran Congress, with calls for protests and allegations of fraud.
Introduction to the Election Results
The Honduran presidential election, which took place on November 30, was marked by delays, technical issues, and allegations of fraud. The election results were finally declared on December 24, with Nasry Asfura, the conservative candidate backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, emerging as the winner with 40.3% of the vote. Asfura edged out center-right Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla, who garnered 39.5%, while the candidate of the ruling LIBRE party, Rixi Moncada, came in a distant third.
The Election Process and Controversies
The election process was marred by technical issues and delays, with around 15% of the tally sheets requiring manual counting to determine the winner. The manual count was interrupted by protests from the LIBRE party, which denounced the election as an "electoral coup." The results were approved by two electoral council members and one deputy, despite ongoing disputes over the razor-thin vote. The third council member, Marlon Ochoa, was not present in the video declaring the winner. Asfura’s victory was met with rejection from Nasralla, who urged his supporters to remain calm and refrain from acts of disruption or violence.
Trump’s Support for Asfura and Allegations of Meddling
Trump’s support for Asfura was seen as election meddling by opponents, with Nasralla and the ruling LIBRE party condemning his comments. Trump had thrown his support behind Asfura, a 67-year-old politician and businessman, writing in a Truth Social post before the election that he was the "only real friend of Freedom in Honduras" and urging people to vote for him. Trump also threatened to cut off U.S. financial support to Honduras if Asfura did not win and pardoned former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, also of Asfura’s National Party, who had been serving a 45-year sentence in the U.S. on drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Asfura’s Platform and Policies
Asfura ran on a broad pro-business platform, emphasizing the need for private investment to move the country forward. His political agenda focused on jobs, education, and security, and he has also signaled that he may swap Honduras’ allegiance to Taiwan, away from Beijing. Asfura projects a modest and hardworking image, dressed in jeans and rolled-up sleeves, but is under investigation, along with other former officials from his administration in the capital, by authorities who say he was part of a scheme to embezzle public funds and launder money. Asfura has denied wrongdoing, saying the actions against him are politically motivated.
Reaction to the Election Results
The election results were met with a mixed reaction, with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulating Asfura on his victory and urging all parties to accept the outcome to ensure a peaceful transition. The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Albert Ramdin, said the group "takes note" of the results and will issue a report with findings and recommendations in the coming days. However, Nasralla and the head of the Honduran Congress rejected the results, with calls for protests and allegations of fraud. Asfura is due to take office on January 27 for the 2026-2030 term, and it remains to be seen how he will navigate the challenges ahead and address the controversies surrounding his election.
