Honduras Votes: A Close Call and a Controversial Release

Neck-and-Neck Race Between Asfura and Nasralla

The presidential election in Honduras remains undecided as Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla are locked in a tight race. The vote count, now being conducted by hand, follows a highly anticipated election that drew significant attention from the United States.

Juan Orlando Hernandez Released from U.S. Prison

Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving time for serious crimes, was released from a U.S. prison. His release came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Hondurans to vote for Asfura and hinted at a potential pardon for Hernandez.

Early Results Show a Technical Tie

Early results indicate both Asfura and Nasralla have approximately 40% of the vote, with Asfura leading by just 515 votes. Rixi Moncada trails in third place with 19%. The election body has declared a "technical tie" and urged calm as they manually recount the votes.

Trump made bold claims on social media, alleging without evidence that Honduras might attempt to alter the election results. He warned of potential consequences and asserted that many people voted on November 30th.

Election Day: High Turnout and Minor Issues

The election saw a high voter turnout and was largely peaceful, according to the Organization of American States. However, they noted minor issues in some areas. Concerns arise that delays in the count could escalate tensions. On Monday, the results website crashed multiple times, further frustrating voters.

Moncada Accuses Opponents of Cheating

Moncada stated that the election is not yet over and accused the other parties of cheating. She also criticized U.S. involvement in the election.

Trump's Pre-Election Endorsement

Before the vote, Trump endorsed Asfura, stating he could collaborate with him to combat drug trafficking. Trump also labeled Moncada a "communist."