On Friday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro reached out to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging a direct conversation about the recent Honduran electoral process. This comes amid heightened political tensions and allegations of irregularities, which the ruling party describes as attempts to destabilize the country's institutions.
In a detailed message posted on the social media platform X, Castro criticized Trump's support for opposition leader Nasry Asfura, arguing that such statements negatively impacted the democratic process and harmed her campaign.
Amid accusations of attempting to steal the election from the opposition, Castro justified her enactment of Legislative Decree No. 58-2025. Passed by 69 members of the National Congress, the decree mandates the National Electoral Council (CNE) to conduct a thorough count of votes and tally sheets from the general elections held on November 30.
Castro accused the CNE of refusing to review 4,774 tally sheets, which represent over 1.5 million voters. She claims this refusal violates both popular sovereignty and the Constitution of the Republic.
Furthermore, she highlighted that the electoral body failed to address 292 challenges related to alleged inconsistencies, tampered tally sheets, votes lacking biometric validation, and potential issues with the Preliminary Results Transmission System (TREP).
The president also criticized the Electoral Justice Tribunal (TJE), accusing it of operating without a fully integrated magistrature and denying the vote count in hundreds of ballot boxes, including those in the capital's mayoral race.
"This is not a crisis of laws; it's a crisis of ethics, morality, and democratic courage," Castro stated, emphasizing that over a million voters have been left unprotected.
She condemned what she described as "institutional cynicism" and foreign interference in the nation's internal affairs.
In light of recent statements from the U.S. Department of State, Castro reiterated her formal invitation to Trump for a direct conversation, aiming to discuss the electoral situation in Honduras with "responsibility, mutual respect, and transparency."
Castro affirmed that her term will end on January 27, 2026, as per the Constitution, and pledged her commitment to peaceful transitions of power and the defense of the popular vote.
Tensions in the Central American nation have escalated, with opposition lawmaker Gladis Aurora López injured after an explosive device was detonated near her in the National Congress on Thursday.
Understanding the Electoral Crisis in Honduras
What prompted Xiomara Castro to reach out to Donald Trump?
Castro sought dialogue with Trump to address the U.S. support for opposition leader Nasry Asfura, which she believes negatively influenced the Honduran electoral process.
What are the allegations against the CNE in the Honduran elections?
The CNE has been accused of refusing to review thousands of tally sheets and not resolving numerous electoral challenges, which allegedly undermines the electoral process.
How has the electoral situation affected political tensions in Honduras?
The situation has escalated political tensions, resulting in incidents such as the injury of opposition lawmaker Gladis Aurora López from an explosive device in the National Congress.