Trump-Backed Nasry Asfura Wins Honduras Presidency Amid Disputed Election

Post by : Saif Nasser

Nasry Asfura, the conservative candidate supported by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been declared the winner of Honduras’ presidential election after weeks of delays, technical problems, and allegations of fraud. The official results were announced more than three weeks after the November 30 vote.

According to the Honduran electoral authority, the CNE, Asfura won 40.3% of the votes, narrowly defeating Salvador Nasralla of the center-right Liberal Party, who received 39.5%. The ruling LIBRE party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada, finished third by a wide margin.

The election was highly contested. Technical issues with the vote counting system forced officials to manually tally around 15% of ballots, amounting to hundreds of thousands of votes. During the counting process, LIBRE party supporters protested, calling the election an "electoral coup" and blocking access to the tally sheets.

Despite these disputes, two members of the electoral council approved Asfura’s victory, while the third member, Marlon Ochoa, was absent during the declaration. Following the announcement, Asfura expressed confidence in his new role, posting on social media: “Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down.” He is set to take office on January 27 for a four-year term from 2026 to 2030.

Salvador Nasralla rejected the official results, claiming that some ballots were not counted. He urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid violence. "I will not accept a result based on omissions. Democracy does not shut down because of exhaustion," Nasralla said, calling it a "saddest Christmas" for the Honduran people. The head of Honduras’ Congress, Luis Redondo, also refused to recognize the outcome, saying it is outside the law.

Trump actively supported Asfura during the campaign. He described Asfura as the “only real friend of Freedom in Honduras” and encouraged voters to back him. Trump also threatened to cut U.S. financial aid if Asfura lost and pardoned former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been serving a 45-year prison sentence in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. Trump later claimed there was fraud in the vote counting without providing evidence.

Political analysts see Trump’s backing of Asfura as part of a broader effort to influence conservative politics in Latin America, linking leaders from countries like El Salvador and Argentina. Both Nasralla and the LIBRE party criticized Trump’s involvement, describing it as election interference.

The U.S. officially congratulated Asfura, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing the need for a peaceful transition. The Organization of American States (OAS) also acknowledged the challenges faced during the electoral process and said a report with findings and recommendations would follow.

Nasry Asfura, born in Tegucigalpa in 1958, has a background in public service and business. He served as mayor of the capital from 2013, earning recognition for his infrastructure projects and the nickname “Papi, at your service.” Asfura emphasizes a pro-business platform, promising to focus on jobs, education, and security. However, he is also under investigation for alleged embezzlement and money laundering, claims he denies, calling them politically motivated.

During his campaign, Asfura projected a modest and practical image, stating that voters care about solutions rather than political extremes. He said, “Extremes don’t work. People don’t care if you’re left or right; they want answers to their problems.”

Asfura’s election highlights both the influence of international politics and the ongoing domestic divisions within Honduras. The coming months will test his ability to govern a country divided by a closely contested vote and widespread political disputes.