Hondurans voted in a tense general election on November 30, dominated by a tight race among three main presidential candidates: Rixi Moncada of the left-wing Libre party, TV host Salvador Nasralla from the centrist Liberal Party, and Nasry “Tito” Asfura of the right-wing National Party. The election also decided all 128 congressional seats and numerous local offices.
U.S. President Donald Trump openly backed Asfura, threatening to cut critical U.S. financial aid if he lost, and announced plans to pardon former president Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been convicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. These actions heightened fears of external interference and deepened political divisions.
Polls showed a close contest with Nasralla slightly leading. He claims his 2017 victory was stolen through fraud, although official recounts disproved this, and his focus is on economic openness, job creation, and breaking ties with China and Venezuela.
Moncada, supported by the current president, pledged to protect natural resources from privatisation and combat corruption, continuing social programmes initiated by her predecessor.
Voting proceeded peacefully despite some delays and extended hours to manage queues. However, mistrust was high, with both the ruling and opposition parties accusing each other of potential fraud. Concerns also centred on the impartiality of the armed forces and whether the ruling party would honour the election results.
The National Electoral Council urged all parties not to incite violence and to respect democratic procedures. This election will shape Honduras’s future amid ongoing struggles with corruption, economic challenges, and geopolitical pressures in the region.