Nasry Asfura has emerged as the victor in the recent Honduran presidential election, securing significant backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump. The election results were announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) following a period of delays and technical issues.
Election Results
Asfura, representing the conservative National Party, won with 40.3% of the votes. His nearest competitor, Salvador Nasralla of the center-right Liberal Party, garnered 39.5% of the vote. The election took place on November 30, but the counting process faced delays due to technical malfunctions.
Technical Issues and Delays
- Initial vote count faced two significant delays.
- Technical outages led to missed deadlines, described by CNE officials as “inexcusable.”
- Approximately 15% of ballots were counted manually due to complications.
The president of the CNE, Ana Paola Hall, attributed the delays to the private company responsible for tabulating the results. She criticized them for performing maintenance without prior notification to the CNE.
Political Reactions
Following the announcement, Asfura expressed his commitment to serve the nation on social media, stating, “Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented, urging all parties to respect the election results to ensure a peaceful transition.
Tensions and Allegations
Despite the official results, the president of the Honduran Congress, Luis Redondo, condemned the outcome as “completely illegal.” Protests erupted in the capital, Tegucigalpa, particularly from supporters of the outgoing government, led by Xiomara Castro, who accused Asfura’s camp of electoral fraud.
Influence of U.S. Politics
Trump’s endorsement of Asfura played a crucial role in the campaign. He warned that there would be severe repercussions if Asfura’s victory was overturned. Significantly, Trump also pardoned former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, affiliated with Asfura’s National Party, who was facing serious criminal charges in the U.S.
Asfura’s win comes amid a backdrop of tensions, with significant claims of electoral manipulation and external influence. Nine days post-election, Nasralla claimed that “corrupt people” had influenced the vote count, while alleging that Trump’s remarks adversely affected his candidacy.
Future Outlook
In his closing remarks, Secretary of State Rubio emphasized the U.S. government’s eagerness to work with Asfura’s administration. He noted that the focus would be on enhancing bilateral and regional security cooperation while addressing issues relating to illegal immigration.
The political landscape in Honduras, previously marked by Castro’s presidency, appears poised for change as Asfura prepares to take office amidst ongoing scrutiny and division within the country.
