Honduras has finally declared a winner in its presidential election, but not without a whirlwind of controversy, delays, and international drama. After weeks of uncertainty following the November 30 vote, conservative National Party candidate Nasry Asfura has been confirmed as president, backed by strong support from former US President Donald Trump.
The race was incredibly tight. Asfura clinched victory with 40.3% of the vote, narrowly beating centre-right Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla, who trailed with 39.5%. The razor-thin margin and a chaotic ballot processing system meant a significant portion of ballots had to be counted by hand, fueling allegations of fraud. Opposition figures, like the head of Congress, even labeled the outcome an “electoral coup.”
Adding a significant layer of intrigue was the outspoken involvement of Donald Trump. Trump openly backed Asfura, calling him “the only real friend of Freedom in Honduras” and even threatening to cut US financial aid if Asfura didn’t win. His intervention went further, with a pardon for a former Honduran president (from Asfura’s party) convicted in the US, and unsubstantiated claims of fraud if preliminary results shifted. Opponents strongly decried this as blatant election meddling.
Despite the uproar, the US Secretary of State congratulated President-Elect Asfura, urging all parties to accept the outcome for a peaceful transition. However, with deep divisions and strong accusations still lingering, Asfura’s path to governing a united Honduras will undoubtedly be challenging.
Source: https://www.yarrawongachronicle.com.au/world/trump-backed-conservative-wins-honduras-presidency/
