The U.S.-Honduran relationship faces challenges, particularly under the Trump administration. Presidential elections approach, with three parties fielding candidates among internal strife and external pressures. The halt of U.S. cooperation threatens to undermine electoral integrity, while rising violence poses serious risks. Electoral authorities must ensure transparency and accountability to prevent corruption and protect democracy in the upcoming elections.
The relationship between the United States and Honduras has faced significant challenges, exacerbated during the Trump administration. Many Republican leaders view President Xiomara Castro’s administration as a concern due to its connections with China and its support for the authoritarian regimes in Nicaragua and Venezuela. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio excluded Honduras from his February 2025 Central America tour, sending a clear message regarding strained ties.
During his presidency, Donald Trump maintained a collaborative relationship with former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2022 and convicted of drug trafficking in 2024. Hernández’s trial revealed electoral fraud during the 2017 elections, raising questions about U.S.-Honduran relations amidst his advisor Roger Stone’s controversial claims regarding U.S. actions against Hernández.
On March 9, 2025, Honduras will conduct primary elections as various political parties prepare for the November general elections. The political landscape is divided among three parties: the Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), the National Party (PN), and the Liberal Party (PL). Each party is grappling with internal strife and fielding candidates with controversial backgrounds.
The LIBRE party has nominated Rixi Moncada, who has strong ties to President Castro but must step down from her current position to run. Rasel Tomé, the current Vice President of Congress, also represents LIBRE but has faced U.S. sanctions for corrupt activities. The PN is putting forward four candidates, including Ana García, the wife of Hernández, and Nasry Asfura, who is under corruption scrutiny.
In contrast, the centrist Liberal Party has chosen Jorge Cálix, a former LIBRE member advocating for changes and improvements. Other candidates from the PL include Salvador Nasralla, who seeks to strengthen ties with the U.S. and Taiwan, and Congresswoman Maribel Espinoza, among others. Potential opposition alliances may form, particularly if Cálix emerges victorious in the primaries.
The political tensions in Honduras are compounded by the halt in U.S. cooperation regarding election support. The Organization of American States (OAS) will oversee the primaries, but the lack of funding could jeopardize a full observation mission during the general elections. The suspension of U.S. aid has critically impacted the monitoring capacity of civil society organizations crucial for electoral oversight.
Previous support from U.S.-backed organizations, like the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), has also been interrupted. As a result, initiatives to monitor electoral integrity, such as those led by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), have also stalled, which could lead to serious implications for democracy and electoral fairness in Honduras.
To combat electoral corruption effectively, it will be paramount for authorities to audit political financing and enforce transparency measures for political parties. The ongoing criminal influence in the electoral process, highlighted by the Hernández trial, calls for immediate and decisive actions to prevent further infiltrations by illicit networks.
Despite regulations requiring candidates to set up bank accounts for campaign donations, compliance remains alarmingly low, with only 21% adhering to this requirement. The Clean Politics Unit is hindered by various challenges, such as confidentiality agreements that limit public access to information on party financing and a lack of resources for necessary transparency initiatives.
The rising risk of electoral violence is troubling, with reports of threats against electoral officials and assassinations of candidates reflecting deep-rooted issues within the country. The nexus between organized crime, territory control, and municipal conflicts significantly undermines security and stability as Honduras struggles with illicit economies and exploitative practices against vulnerable communities.
Ensuring free and fair elections in Honduras is a pressing obligation for authorities. This includes securing adequate funding for electoral processes and genuinely committing to transparency in campaign financing. Furthermore, it is essential that the U.S. reinstates its cooperative efforts with electoral bodies and civil society to enforce electoral integrity while combating organized crime to safeguard democracy throughout the electoral process.
Honduras faces a crucial moment as it approaches the primary elections amid internal political struggles and external pressures. U.S.-Honduran relations are strained, particularly with the cessation of American support for electoral processes that could undermine democratic integrity. Ensuring transparency in campaign financing and restoring international cooperation will be vital to mitigating corruption and facilitating fair elections. Ultimately, the commitment to uphold democratic values in Honduras relies on both local initiatives and international support against organized crime and political violence.
Original Source: www.wola.org
