On December 24, 2025, Honduras found itself at the center of international attention as Nasry "Tito" Asfura, a conservative businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, was declared the winner of the country's hotly contested presidential election. The election, which took place nearly a month earlier on November 30, was marked by razor-thin margins, allegations of foreign interference, and claims of voting irregularities that have left the Central American nation deeply divided.
The announcement by the National Electoral Council (CNE) came after weeks of suspense. Asfura, representing the National Party, secured 40.27% of the vote, narrowly edging out centrist rival Salvador Nasralla, who garnered 39.53%—a difference of just about 28,000 votes, according to Reuters and CNN. Rixi Moncada, the ruling party’s leftist candidate, trailed in a distant third with 19%. The margin of victory, just 0.74%, prompted electoral officials to hand-count approximately 15% of tally sheets to verify the outcome, as reported by Reuters.
The prolonged vote count, which stretched nearly a month past election day, was fraught with starts and stops. The online tally was halted multiple times, including a notable pause on December 1 when the candidates were in a statistical tie. When counting resumed, Nasralla briefly took the lead, only for Asfura to pull ahead days later. Technical issues further complicated matters, with the vote count website going offline for “maintenance,” a move criticized by electoral council members Ana Paola Hall and Cossette López for its lack of transparency.
Salvador Nasralla, refusing to concede, accused the electoral council of prematurely declaring a winner and alleged manipulation of the results. In a speech to supporters, he said, “It’s not a whim, it’s not an emotional reaction. A result shouldn’t have been declared without counting all the votes. And they’re going to regret that for the rest of their lives.” Nasralla also claimed, “The data from the original tally sheets were altered,” and urged his backers to remain calm and avoid violence, calling it “the saddest Christmas for the Honduran people.”
Opposition to the results extended beyond Nasralla. The president of Honduras’ Congress, Luis Redondo of the ruling Libre party, denounced the declaration as “completely outside the law. It has no value.” The Libre party’s representative on the CNE refused to endorse the outcome, alleging an “electoral coup” and filing a formal complaint with the public prosecutor. The Organization of American States, which sent an observation mission, expressed concern that the winner was declared before the completion of a special scrutiny recount of inconsistent tally sheets.
Despite the controversy, Asfura struck a tone of reassurance in his first address as president-elect. “Honduras: I am prepared to govern,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I will not fail you.” He also praised the electoral council’s efforts, stating, “I recognise the great work carried out by the councillors and the entire team that ran the election. Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down. God bless Honduras.”
The election’s outcome was closely entwined with the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly endorsed Asfura days before the vote. On Truth Social, Trump warned, “If (Asfura) doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is.” Trump’s endorsement was followed by a controversial pardon for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, a key Asfura ally who had been sentenced in the U.S. to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking. Trump defended the pardon, claiming Hernández was the victim of a “witch hunt,” despite U.S. prosecutors’ assertions that Hernández had conspired with drug cartels to move more than 400 tons of cocaine through Honduras toward the United States. Hernández, for his part, maintained his innocence, thanked Trump for the pardon, and congratulated Asfura, saying, “Honduras closes a cycle and opens a new stage with hope, commitment, and responsibility.”
Trump’s involvement did not go unnoticed or unchallenged in Honduras. Libre party candidate Rixi Moncada said there was “no doubt that there are two concrete actions, three days before the elections, that are totally interventionist.” Outgoing president Xiomara Castro accused Trump of threatening the Honduran people and denounced the election process as being “marked by threats, manipulation of the preliminary results system, and falsification of the popular will.” Castro pledged to bring the matter to international bodies including the United Nations, the European Union, and the Organization of American States.
International reaction was swift. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Asfura on X, stating, “The United States congratulates president-elect Asfura and looks forward to working with his administration to advance prosperity and security in our hemisphere.” Lawmakers in the U.S., however, expressed concern over Trump’s pardon of Hernández, questioning the wisdom of pardoning an individual convicted of major drug offenses while the U.S. continues to combat narcotics trafficking in the region.
Asfura’s campaign focused on a free-market platform, emphasizing foreign investment, national security, and improvements to health and education. He has promised to distance Honduras from Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, aligning with U.S. policy and the outgoing government’s stance. Political analysts noted Asfura’s willingness to accommodate U.S. interests, a factor that likely influenced Trump’s endorsement.
With his inauguration set for January 27, 2026, Asfura faces daunting challenges. He will succeed President Xiomara Castro, the first left-wing leader to complete a term in Honduras—a significant milestone in the country’s turbulent political history. The aftermath of the election has left many Hondurans questioning the legitimacy of the process and the role of foreign powers in their democracy. Asfura’s ability to unite a fractured nation and address deep-seated issues of corruption, security, and economic stagnation will be closely watched both at home and abroad.
As the dust settles, Honduras stands at a crossroads. The coming months will test whether its new leader can deliver on promises of stability and reform, or whether the divisions exposed by this election will deepen further.
