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Nasry Asfura Holds Narrow Lead in Honduras’ Presidential Election
Early results from the general election in Honduras show Nasry Asfura, leader of the right-wing National Party, holding a narrow lead over his rival, former TV host and Vice-President Salvador Nasralla.
With more than 40% of the votes counted, Asfura is just ahead with 40.5%, while Nasralla follows closely behind with 39%, according to preliminary results published by the National Electoral Council (CNE). The ruling left-wing Libre party candidate, Rixi Moncada, trails in third place with about 20%.
While the results are still preliminary, the CNE head emphasised that the race remains tight between the two conservative candidates. There are still many ballots left to be counted, and the lead could change as more votes come in, particularly from remote areas.
Asfura, backed by US President Donald Trump, has also seen support from Washington, with Trump having threatened to cut financial aid to Honduras if his preferred candidate does not win. Trump has expressed that the US would be “very supportive” of Asfura if he wins, but would withdraw aid if Nasralla emerges victorious, calling a wrong leader “catastrophic” for any country.
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Although the Libre party has said it will not accept results based on preliminary counts, only the final tally of paper ballots, the main parties have pledged to respect the outcome of the election.
Asfura, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa, has been working to restore his party’s reputation, which has been tarnished by scandals, including corruption charges involving the former president, Juan Orlando Hernández. Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the US for drug smuggling and weapons charges, and Asfura has distanced himself from the former president, stating that he has “no ties” to Hernández.
Moncada, who has been endorsed by outgoing president Xiomara Castro, has vowed to protect the country’s “natural wealth” and combat corruption if elected. She also criticised Trump’s endorsement of Asfura, calling it “totally interventionist.”
In addition to the presidential race, voters are also choosing 128 members of Congress and nearly 300 local representatives.
