Trump-Backed Candidate Wins in Knife-Edge Honduran Election
nasry asfura emerges victorious in a tight race
Nasry Asfura has been proclaimed the winner of Honduras’ closely contested presidential election, following weeks marked by technical delays and claims of fraud. The conservative National Party candidate, supported strongly by former U.S. President Donald Trump, secured 40.3% of the vote, narrowly beating Salvador Nasralla of the center-right Liberal Party, who garnered 39.5%, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE).
– Asfura expressed his determination on X, stating, Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down.
– Nasralla, during a press conference, voiced his concerns: I will not accept a result built on omissions, urging his supporters to remain calm despite the turbulent atmosphere.
Political Reactions and Allegations
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on all parties to respect the election outcome, emphasizing the need for a peaceful transition of authority. However, the president of the country’s Congress, Luis Redondo, labeled the result as completely illegal.
The contentious election held on November 30 faced significant delays, attributed to technical outages described by officials as inexcusable. CNE President Ana Paola Hall cited a private company’s unannounced maintenance activities as the cause. Just a day prior, a portal displaying real-time results had crashed, exacerbating tensions.
Due to the tumultuous counting process, approximately 15% of ballot tally sheets were manually counted to finalize the results. This situation sparked widespread protests in Honduras, particularly among thousands of supporters from the governing Libre Party, who alleged electoral fraud. Outgoing President Xiomara Castro accused external forces, including Trump, of influencing the election.
When Trump endorsed Asfura, he indicated there would be hell to pay if the narrow lead changed during the count. He also threatened to cut U.S. financial support should Asfura not win. Adding to the controversy, Trump controversially pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of Asfura’s National Party, who served a 45-year prison sentence in the U.S. for drug and weapons charges.
Tensions in the Wake of the Election
Nine days post-election, Nasralla accused corrupt people of meddling with the vote count, claiming Trump’s remarks had negatively impacted his campaign. Following the announcement of Asfura’s victory, Rubio stated that the U.S. looks forward to collaborating with the new administration to enhance bilateral security and economic ties, specifically in efforts to curb illegal immigration to the U.S.
As Honduras adjusts to its new political landscape, the implications of this knife-edge election and the influence of Trump remain to be seen, shaping the nation’s future trajectory.