UPDATE: The presidential election in Honduras remains too close to call as the vote count enters its seventh day. Conservative candidate Nasry Asfura holds a razor-thin lead with 40.19% of the ballots tallied, just 20,000 votes ahead of rival Salvador Nasralla, who has 39.49%, according to the Honduran electoral authority.
Approximately 88% of ballots have been counted, but significant challenges remain, including reports of inconsistencies in about 14% of the votes, which officials confirm will be reviewed. The outcome is critical, drawing intense scrutiny from international observers, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly endorsed Asfura.
In a social media post, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated, “The world’s eyes, including ours, are on Honduras.” This heightened attention comes after Trump’s recent pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who served time in the U.S. for drug trafficking. Hernandez thanked Trump in a video message, highlighting the political stakes surrounding this election.
Asfura, the former mayor of Tegucigalpa, has faced allegations of corruption during his tenure. Meanwhile, Nasralla, a well-known television presenter and a three-time presidential candidate, claims that Trump’s endorsement has shifted the dynamics of the race in Asfura’s favor. The third candidate, Rixi Moncada of the ruling LIBRE Party, trails significantly with only 19.30% of the vote.
As the nation awaits the final results, the atmosphere in Tegucigalpa remains calm, with election workers continuing to count ballots manually. The Honduran electoral system mandates that the candidate with the most votes wins outright, regardless of whether they achieve a majority.
Authorities emphasize the importance of accuracy in this pivotal election, as the world watches closely. The outcome will not only determine the future leadership of Honduras but also reflect the ongoing geopolitical interests in Central America.
In the coming days, the focus will be on the completion of the ballot count and the resolution of any discrepancies. As the situation develops, voters and observers alike are eager to see who will emerge as the next president of Honduras. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.
