Trump-backed Conservative Nasry Asfura Declared Winner in Honduran Presidential Election
After a protracted and disputed count, Honduras’s electoral authorities declared conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, endorsed by President Donald Trump, the winner of the November election.
Honduran electoral authorities have declared conservative candidate Nasry Asfura the winner of the nation’s presidential election, concluding a vote count that dragged on for more than three weeks and exposed deep strains in the country’s electoral system.
Asfura, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, secured just over 40 percent of the vote, narrowly edging out rival Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, who received roughly thirty-nine and a half percent.
The candidate of the ruling LIBRE party trailed in a distant third place.
The election, held on November thirtieth, was marked by significant delays, technical issues and allegations of irregularities that prompted a manual count of roughly fifteen percent of ballots.
Asfura, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa known for infrastructure projects, ran on a broadly pro-business platform focused on job creation, security and education.
His campaign also hinted at potential shifts in diplomatic alignments, including comments on relations with Taiwan.
President Trump’s endorsement, issued just days before the vote, drew sharp criticism from opponents who characterised it as undue foreign influence in Honduras’s internal affairs.
Critics noted that the U.S. leader even threatened cuts to American aid if Asfura did not prevail, adding to perceptions of interference.
Opponents including Nasralla contended that the electoral authorities mishandled the count and challenged the legitimacy of the outcome, alleging votes were excluded or mismanaged.
Despite the controversy, the U.S. government under President Trump formally recognised Asfura’s victory.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged all Honduran political forces to accept the results and to ensure a peaceful transition, emphasising cooperation on security, migration and economic issues between the two countries.
Several international partners, including some European states and other conservative leaders in Latin America, also extended congratulations.
The protracted and contested election underscores broader political shifts in the region, following recent conservative gains in neighbouring countries.
Asfura is scheduled to assume office in January 2026, taking the helm of a deeply divided electorate and navigating both domestic challenges and international expectations.
Asfura, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, secured just over 40 percent of the vote, narrowly edging out rival Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, who received roughly thirty-nine and a half percent.
The candidate of the ruling LIBRE party trailed in a distant third place.
The election, held on November thirtieth, was marked by significant delays, technical issues and allegations of irregularities that prompted a manual count of roughly fifteen percent of ballots.
Asfura, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa known for infrastructure projects, ran on a broadly pro-business platform focused on job creation, security and education.
His campaign also hinted at potential shifts in diplomatic alignments, including comments on relations with Taiwan.
President Trump’s endorsement, issued just days before the vote, drew sharp criticism from opponents who characterised it as undue foreign influence in Honduras’s internal affairs.
Critics noted that the U.S. leader even threatened cuts to American aid if Asfura did not prevail, adding to perceptions of interference.
Opponents including Nasralla contended that the electoral authorities mishandled the count and challenged the legitimacy of the outcome, alleging votes were excluded or mismanaged.
Despite the controversy, the U.S. government under President Trump formally recognised Asfura’s victory.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged all Honduran political forces to accept the results and to ensure a peaceful transition, emphasising cooperation on security, migration and economic issues between the two countries.
Several international partners, including some European states and other conservative leaders in Latin America, also extended congratulations.
The protracted and contested election underscores broader political shifts in the region, following recent conservative gains in neighbouring countries.
Asfura is scheduled to assume office in January 2026, taking the helm of a deeply divided electorate and navigating both domestic challenges and international expectations.
