Polls open in vote shadowed by Trump aid threats

Hondurans are casting their votes in general elections dominated by US President Donald Trump’s threats.

There are five presidential candidates on the bill, but the poll is essentially seen as a three-way race between former defense minister Rixi Moncada of the leftist Libre party, TV host Salvador Nasralla of the centrist Liberals and businessman Nasry “Tito” Asfura of the right-wing National Party.

Trump threw his support behind Asfura and threatened to cut financial aid to the Central American country if he did not win.

The latest poll shows Nasralla in the lead, but with 34% of voters saying they are still undecided, that could be anyone’s race.

In Honduras, presidents can only serve a single four-year term, so incumbent Xiomara Castro, who became the country’s first female president when she took office on behalf of her Libre party in 2021, is not on the ballot.

He supported Moncada’s replacement. The 60-year-old lawyer promised that if he won he would protect the “natural wealth” from “21st century thugs who want to privatize everything”. Moncada also expressed his determination to fight corruption “in all its forms”.

On Saturday, Moncada accused Trump of interfering in the election and said Trump’s support of his right-wing rival was “totally interventionist.”

Trump said the United States would be “very supportive” if Tito Asfura won the presidency.

“If he doesn’t win, the United States will not throw bad money around because a wrong Leader can only bring disastrous results to a country, no matter what it is,” Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social.

The US sent more than $193 million (£146 million) to Honduras in the last financial year. Ministry of Foreign Affairs websiteIt has sent out more than $102 million this year, despite aid cuts. The Trump Administration has reportedly already cut $167 million in economic and governance aid earmarked for 2024 and 2025. The congress website says.

In another post, Trump wrote that he and Asfura, the former mayor of the capital Tegucigalpa, “could work together to fight Narco-communists” and oppose drug trafficking.

In a series of social media posts, Nasry Asfura pledged to bring “development and opportunities for all,” “facilitate domestic and foreign investment into the country,” and “create jobs for all.”

However, his party has been plagued by scandals and corruption accusations in recent years. Sentencing of former party leader and former president Juan Orlando Hernández last year.

Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the United States on drug trafficking and weapons charges. The decision that Trump now plans to overturn.

Asfura carefully tried to move away from Hernández. He told the AFP news agency on Friday that he had “no ties” with the former president and that “the party is not responsible for his personal actions”.

But the current leader is 72-year-old Salvador Nasralla, who is running for president for the fourth time.

He claims his win in 2017 was stolen due to “election fraud committed by Hernández.” This was never proven and the partial recount found no irregularities, but the decision sparked mass protests across the country.

According to his campaign website, Nasralla said his government’s main focus will be the “open economy” and that he is committed to creating jobs. He also says he would cut ties with China and Venezuela if he wins.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have increased recently; The US has increased its military presence in the region and carried out at least 21 deadly attacks on boats it said were carrying drugs. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said the US’s actions were an attempt to overthrow him.

on saturday, Trump declared that Venezuelan airspace should be considered closedEven though he doesn’t have the strength to do it.

Beyond Honduras’ relationship with the United States, many voters are asking more fundamental questions about this race when they vote.

Will the voting go smoothly and will the results be delivered on time?

If the ruling Libre party loses, will it accept defeat and give up power?

More importantly, will the armed forces, which are accused of becoming increasingly politicized, remain independent and not aligned with any party or politician?

Polls for single-round elections will begin at 07:00 CET (13:00 GMT) and close after 10 hours of voting.

Preemptive accusations of election fraud, made by both the ruling party and the opposition, created distrust in the vote and sparked fears of post-election unrest.

This led the head of the National Electoral Council, Ana Paola Hall, to warn all parties not to “fan the flames of confrontation or violence”.