Debate over Trump's influence in Honduras as conservatives take the lead in presidential vote count

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras At her small eatery in downtown Tegucigalpa, 52-year-old Reyna Vega prepares simple breakfasts of eggs, fried plantains with cream, and refried beans with corn tortillas. Vega noted that over the last four years, the cost of these staples has risen significantly, reflecting broader global inflation. On Sunday, she cast her vote for former Tegucigalpa Mayor Nasry Asfura, whose tenure as mayor included infrastructure improvements and road paving, seeing him as a figure of better times.

Vegas support for Asfura, the National Party candidate, was partly driven by a desire to replace the current governing democratic socialist LIBRE (Liberty and Re-foundation Party). Friends who were undecided between Asfura and the conservative Liberal Party candidate, Salvador Nasralla, were reportedly influenced in the final days of the campaign by U.S. President Donald Trumps endorsement of Asfura. Asfura and Nasralla were tied in preliminary results, with roughly 57% of polling stations reporting.

Trumps influence in Honduras sparked debate. Some analysts argued that Rixi Moncada, LIBREs candidate, would have faced challenges even without Trumps warnings that she might lead Honduras down a path similar to Venezuela. Nasralla, who Trump also criticized, remained just a few hundred votes behind Asfura in early tallies. The preliminary results suggested that Trumps intervention affected undecided voters, particularly those leaning toward Nasralla but ultimately choosing Asfura.

Juan Carlos Aguilar, director of the NGO More Just Society, noted that Trumps statements shifted support closer to Asfura than pre-election polls indicated. Similarly, Fabricio Paz Mungua, a Nasralla supporter from San Pedro Sula, said the remarks prompted Hondurans to reconsider their choices.

Despite Asfuras early lead, the outcome remained uncertain. He maintained strong support in Tegucigalpa, where results arrived first, but as more votes were counted, Nasralla caught up with about 39% of the vote. In Honduras, the presidential candidate with the most votes wins, even without reaching 50%.

National Electoral Council President Ana Paola Hall reported that the preliminary rapid reporting system had tallied 57% of polling stations, with Asfura leading by 515 votes. The full count was expected to take additional time, with Hall urging patience. Both candidates reported differing vote totals from their own tallies but avoided declaring victory. Asfura emphasized calm, while Nasralla expressed confidence in overtaking Asfura with votes from northern regions.

Many voters, including Vegas son Eddy Xavier, prioritized removing LIBRE from power over the individual candidate. Although current LIBRE President Xiomara Castro has reduced violence and improved economic indicators, many Hondurans recalled better living conditions under former President Juan Orlando Hernndez of the National Party. Trumps announcement to pardon Hernndez, who was imprisoned in the U.S. for drug trafficking, also influenced voter sentiment.

Young first-time voter Jair vila admitted that Trumps pledge to pardon Hernndez factored into his choice, recalling lower prices and social benefits during Hernndezs administration. Trumps support for Asfura also raised hopes among some voters for potential protections for Honduran migrants in the U.S.

Vega, who has many relatives in the U.S. sending remittances back home, expressed support for Hernndezs possible return, believing he might approach leadership differently. With preliminary results still close, it could take days to declare an official winner, while LIBREs candidate Moncada, trailing by 20 points, urged her supporters to remain ready to contest the results until all votes were counted.

Author: Sophia Brooks