Hondurans still waiting for election results a week after voting

Hondurans are still awaiting election results five days after a closely contested presidential race, where a technical deadlock remains between a right-wing candidate, backed by former US President Donald Trump, and his conservative opponent.

The vote tally, which began after Sundays election, has proceeded slowly, facing delays and accusations of fraud from Salvador Nasralla, the 72-year-old Liberal Party (PL) candidate and television host. Despite significant progress, the vote count between Nasralla and Nasry Asfura, Trumps preferred candidate, continues to be too close to declare a winner.

With 88 percent of votes counted, Asfura, from the National Party (PN), leads with 40.20 percent of the vote, while Nasralla follows closely with 39.47 percent, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE). Approximately 2,000 ballots with discrepancies will undergo special review. Nasralla has raised concerns over what he perceives as irregularities in the vote tally process, accusing those responsible of attempting to skew the results in favor of his opponent. He warned that the CNE might not meet its December 30 deadline to finalize the results.

In contrast, Asfura, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa and a construction entrepreneur, urged patience and emphasized national stability over political tension. I will avoid making statements that might cause confusion or spread uncertainty. The countrys stability is more important than any personal goals. I call for calm, he stated.

Trumps endorsement played a key role in the final phase of the campaign. He openly supported Asfura, labeling him a "friend of freedom." In response, Trump criticized Nasralla for allegedly pretending to be an anti-communist, further intensifying the political climate. The former president, known for challenging election results, warned that there would be hell to pay if any changes were made to the outcome.

Honduras, one of the poorest and most violent countries in Latin America, has seen a significant number of citizens fleeing to the United States, seeking refuge from violence and poverty, including minors fleeing gang recruitment. Trump's support for political allies in the region has grown more vocal, as he threatened to cut aid to both Honduras and Argentina if his chosen candidates did not win. Argentine President Javier Milei, a close ally of Trump, triumphed in his countrys midterm elections.

Regardless of the final result, Sundays vote marked a significant loss for the left-wing government currently in power in Honduras.