Tensions Rise in Honduras as Election Council Faces Accusations
Honduras’s National Electoral Council (CNE) has come under scrutiny after Cossette Lopez-Osorio, a council member representing the right-wing National Party, publicly accused her left-leaning colleague Marlon Ochoa of intimidation tactics aimed at disrupting a news conference. The accusations come as the Central American country awaits final results from Sunday’s presidential election, a contest marked by razor-thin margins and heightened political tensions.
Lopez-Osorio detailed in a social media post that Ochoa allegedly tried to stall the press conference by mobilizing members of the LIBRE party and his staff to intimidate journalists and prevent the council from resuming the vote count. She wrote, “The press conference to mark the resumption of the results release was disrupted.”
Presidential Race Deadlocked Between Nasralla and Asfura
The accusations have escalated an already tense political climate. As votes continue to be tallied, Salvador Nasralla of the centre-right Liberal Party and Nasry “Tito” Asfura of the right-wing National Party are in a virtual dead heat. As of Tuesday afternoon, Nasralla led with 39.93% of votes, while Asfura trailed closely at 39.86%.
Meanwhile, Rixi Moncada, the left-wing LIBRE party candidate and former frontrunner, fell behind in early counts. Approximately 20% of votes remain uncounted, according to the CNE, leaving the election outcome uncertain.
Infighting and Controversy Plague the CNE
The Honduran electoral body has been embroiled in internal disputes even before the vote. Each CNE councillor is appointed by the Honduran legislature to represent one of the three main political parties: the Liberal Party, the National Party, and LIBRE, the party of outgoing President Xiomara Castro.
Lopez-Osorio’s relationship with Ochoa has been particularly contentious. In October, Ochoa accused her of conspiring with the Honduran military to manipulate election results, citing audio recordings. Lopez-Osorio has denied these allegations, calling the recordings “fabricated” and the claims “outrageous.” Nevertheless, Attorney General Johel Zelaya opened an investigation into the matter.
Ochoa has consistently raised concerns about the integrity of the election, including citing a failed test of the voting system in early November that allegedly demonstrated technical vulnerabilities.
Technical Failures and Election Irregularities
The election process has faced several hurdles, including technical failures, website crashes, and delayed vote counts, which have fueled public concern about transparency. Speaking to CNN, Lopez-Osorio attributed these disruptions to technical glitches rather than intentional manipulation.
She explained that the CNE is actively working with ASD SAS, the technology company managing vote transmission, to resolve the issues quickly and ensure full access to election data.
“We have very narrow margins, and we also have a large proportion of ballots to process in these remaining days,” Lopez-Osorio said, urging the electorate to remain patient and vigilant.
Political Reactions and Allegations of Interference
The volatile election environment has drawn international attention. Former US President Donald Trump, a supporter of Asfura, amplified allegations of fraud on his platform, Truth Social, warning of potential consequences if the results were altered.
On the other side, LIBRE’s Moncada criticized what she called “imperial foreign interference”, linking Trump’s comments to October’s leaked audio recordings and vowing to challenge the results if necessary.
“The elections are not lost. The two-party system imposed its electoral plot on us, following the trap revealed by the 26 audio recordings,” Moncada stated.
Lopez-Osorio also urged citizens to stay alert amid the unfolding drama, emphasizing the importance of monitoring the electoral process closely.
Conclusion
As Honduras continues its vote count, the presidential race remains tightly contested between Nasralla and Asfura, with LIBRE party candidate Moncada signaling potential legal challenges. The conflict within the CNE, technical glitches, and political maneuvering highlight the fragility of Honduras’s democratic process in this highly charged election. Citizens and international observers alike remain watchful as the nation awaits a clear winner.
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