Two right-leaning contenders were neck and neck in the race for the presidency in Honduras, as approximately 55% of polling stations had reported their results by early Monday. The election took place shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump interfered in the close competition by endorsing a candidate and pledging to pardon a former president.
According to preliminary figures, Nasry (Tito) Asfura of the National Party led with 40% of the vote, closely followed by Salvador Nasralla of the conservative Liberal Party with around 39.78%. Rixi Moncada of the democratic socialist LIBRE Party trailed with 19.49% of the votes.
Both Asfura and Nasralla refrained from claiming victory, emphasizing that it was still early in the counting process. Despite initial excitement at their campaign headquarters, the streets of Tegucigalpa, the capital, remained calm as the vote tally progressed slowly.
Asfura, a 67-year-old former mayor of Tegucigalpa who received Trump’s endorsement, focused on his track record of successful infrastructure projects during his campaign. In contrast, Nasralla, a 72-year-old sportscaster, highlighted his political experience despite running as an outsider candidate.
Nasralla expressed confidence in his chances as the initial results trickled in, emphasizing that the race was too close to call. He tried to use Trump’s involvement to bolster his image as an anti-establishment candidate, despite this being his fourth presidential bid.
Trump’s endorsement of Asfura and his announcement of pardoning former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence in the U.S. for aiding drug traffickers, stirred controversy. Democrats criticized Trump’s decision, with Sen. Tim Kaine calling the pardon “shocking” on a news program.
The final stages of the election campaign were marked by accusations of election manipulation among the top three candidates, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the results. The opposition feared that the ruling party would misuse its power to influence the outcome.
The election was held against a backdrop of economic challenges and security concerns in Honduras, with voters prioritizing issues such as job opportunities and public safety. While the country has seen improvements in homicide and unemployment rates under the current administration, challenges persist, including high levels of violence.
Overall, the election outcome remained uncertain, with the electorate closely watching the unfolding developments as the results continued to be tallied.