Honduran centrist candidate Salvador Nasralla has widened a slim lead over his conservative rival Nasry Asfura, backed by former US President Donald Trump, as vote counting continued into the fourth day following Sunday’s tightly contested presidential election.

With 80.29% of votes tallied, the Liberal Party’s Nasralla held 40.23%, compared with 39.69% for Asfura, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE). The lead represents fewer than 14,000 votes, making the outcome too close to call.

Third Candidate Trails Behind

The leftist LIBRE Party candidate Rixi Moncada came in third with 19.01%, well behind the two frontrunners. Honduras elects its president in a single round, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins, even without an absolute majority.

Counting Delays and Technical Issues

Vote counting has been repeatedly delayed due to technical difficulties with the tabulating system. The CNE suspended counting on Wednesday, citing unannounced system maintenance, which officials described as “inexcusable.” Ballots from remote regions—some accessible only by donkey or river boat—are still being received, meaning a final result could take several more days.

Trump Allegations and US Involvement

Trump has publicly alleged election fraud without evidence, claiming Honduras is trying to “change the results” and warning that US aid could be cut if Asfura does not win. In 2024, the United States provided $193.5 million in aid to Honduras.

Earlier this week, Trump also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a member of Asfura’s National Party who had been serving a 45-year US sentence for drug trafficking. Hernandez thanked Trump in his first social media post, calling the pardon life-changing.

Calls for Calm

Election observers from the European Union, the Organization of American States, and Honduras’s electoral authority have urged patience while votes are fully counted. Nasralla, a 72-year-old television presenter, expressed confidence despite delays, posting on X: “Either way, we’re going to win.”

Moncada criticized the vote transmission system as flawed and condemned Trump’s interventions as violating international protocols, calling them a direct interference in the Honduran people’s democratic process.