Honduras is conducting a general election today, with five presidential candidates on the ballot. The leading contenders include Rixi Moncada of the leftist Libre party, Salvador Nasralla from the centrist Liberals, and Nasry "Tito" Asfura of the right-wing National Party.
US Involvement and Aid
Former US President Donald Trump has publicly expressed support for candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura. Trump stated that the US would be "very supportive" if Asfura wins the presidency, adding that if he does not win, the US "will not be throwing good money after bad." He also mentioned the potential to work with Asfura to "fight the Narcocommunists" and counter drug trafficking.
According to the US State Department, over $193 million in aid was sent to Honduras in the last fiscal year, with more than $102 million sent this year. Reports indicate that $167 million in economic and governance aid earmarked for 2024 and 2025 has been cut by the Trump Administration.
Key Candidates and Platforms
- Rixi Moncada: The 60-year-old lawyer, who has received the backing of outgoing President Xiomara Castro, has pledged to protect "natural wealth" and combat corruption. Moncada described Trump's endorsement of Asfura as "totally interventionist."
- Salvador Nasralla: The TV host is currently positioned as the leading candidate in recent opinion polls.
- Nasry "Tito" Asfura: The former mayor of Tegucigalpa has articulated pledges to foster "development and opportunities for everyone," facilitate "foreign and domestic investment," and "generate employment." Asfura's party has faced corruption accusations in recent years, including the sentencing of former party leader and ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández for drug-smuggling and weapons charges in the US. Asfura has stated that he has "no ties" with Hernández and that "the party is not responsible for his personal actions."
Election Dynamics
Outgoing President Xiomara Castro, who became the country's first female president in 2021, is constitutionally ineligible to seek a second term. While Nasralla holds a lead in opinion polls, 34% of the electorate remains undecided, indicating a potentially close contest.