As such, Honduran mayor Nasry “Tito” Asfura was just declared winner in presidential elections held earlier this month. He garnered support from former U.S. President Donald Trump through a highly divisive election campaign. The announcement, though expected, followed a month-long count of ballots beset by accusations of fraud and outside interference. Asfura won with just 40.27% of the vote against his closest challenger, Salvador Nasralla, who had 39.53%, in a country where voting is mandatory. The final margin was just 28,000 total votes.
Political observers were shocked when the electoral council controversially declared Asfura the winner. This announcement came too soon, as they hadn’t yet completed their review of the tally sheets. This “special scrutiny” was created to resolve errors in the vote total. We can understand critics’ concerns that the early announcement damages the presumptive winner’s credibility and the reliability of the electoral process.
Nasralla has so far declined to concede, accusing the government of fraud while the votes continue to be counted. He stated, “the data from the original tally sheets were altered,” asserting that irregularities compromised the election’s legitimacy. His campaign has called on supporters to stay peaceful and pledged no activity that could result in violence or unrest.
On the eve of the election, Trump poured fuel on the fire by prematurely announcing a pardon for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández. Hernández is a close ally of Asfura. There was a significant caveat—Hernández had previously been sentenced to 45 years in prison for his participation in drug trafficking operations. On the campaign trail, Trump campaigned in support of Asfura by painting other candidates as communists or supporters of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. This tactic purposefully portrayed the election as a contest between sane governance and perilous radicalism.
Following his win, Asfura thanked the electoral authority. In doing so he reiterated his desire for more effective governance.
“Honduras, we now have the official declaration from the CNE. I recognise the great work carried out by the councillors and the entire team that ran the election. Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down. God bless Honduras.” – Nasry Asfura
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Asfura on social media, emphasizing that “The people of Honduras have spoken: Nasry Asfura is Honduras’ next president.” The U.S. government is anxious to engage at all levels with Asfura’s administration. Combined, they want to increase the region’s prosperity and security.
Dissent continues as Nasralla described the outcome as “the saddest Christmas for the Honduran people,” reflecting widespread discontent among his supporters and concerns over electoral integrity.
Luis Redondo, a prominent figure in Nasralla’s campaign, voiced strong objections to the electoral process, declaring, “This is completely outside the law. It has no value.” This is a common sentiment among both Republicans and Democrats who are apprehensive about the integrity of the upcoming election.
As Honduras opens this new chapter under President-elect Asfura, much will depend on what happens next. The landscape has gotten murkier amid recent electoral disputes and a cloud of fraud allegations. All of these events have soured that hope for a peaceful transition of power.