Social activists cite fraud, rights abuses, and past violence linked to the National Party.

On Thursday, social activists and human rights defenders in Honduras expressed concern over the National Party’s return to power, after what they described as an electoral coup was finalized with the proclamation by the National Electoral Council (or CNE) of Nasry Asfura as the winner of the Nov. 30 presidential election.

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Several Honduran grassroots movements recalled that the National Party carried out the 2009 coup against then-President Manuel Zelaya and remained in power unconstitutionally until 2021.

As a result, the victory of Asfura, who received explicit support from U.S. President Donald Trump, is viewed as a cause for concern by Honduran social organizations.

“They are killers! And they do not care at all about violating human rights,” said Ermin Lopez, a member of the Independent Lenca Indigenous Movement of La Paz, Honduras, known as MILPAH.

To illustrate how catastrophic the return of the right to power would be, Lopez recalled that about 90 environmental activists were killed by criminal groups during National Party governments. He also emphasized that Honduran Indigenous movements have denounced the National Party’s complicity with armed paramilitary groups that support extractive business activities.

“During its 12 years in power, the National Party authorized geological, hydroelectric and photovoltaic concessions. It also invaded Indigenous territories. We are witnessing a dangerous regression for our society and for our people,” the MILPAH activist said.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Honduras: “This is the least transparent and most dishonest election in history.” pic.twitter.com/Q9Kj2wqXbO

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 24, 2025

Concern over Asfura’s rise to power was also expressed by feminist movements and by organizations representing lesbians, gays and transgender people.

“We are going to be affected because party members have clearly spoken out against the rights we are seeking. As organizations, we will have to prepare for the next four years, because the political situation in the country will be unstable,” said Florenz Carranza, a spokesperson for the LGBTQI Center of Tegucigalpa.

On Dec. 24, CNE members Ana Hall and Cossette Lopez finalized what critics called the electoral coup and declared National Party candidate Nasry Asfura president-elect for the 2026–2030 term.

Asfura’s recognition comes amid serious allegations of irregularities during the vote-counting process, strong foreign interference and a plot orchestrated ahead of the Nov. 30 elections.

Allegations of fraud were raised by both the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party, known as Libre, and the opposition Liberal Party. CNE member Marlon Ochoa also denounced the irregularities and the refusal by Hall and Lopez to conduct a vote-by-vote recount.

In an unexpected turn, Nasry Asfura has been declared president-elect of Honduras by the National Electoral Council, despite the lack of completion in the ballot. This action, supported by two CNE councilors, has raised alarms about the integrity of the electoral process. pic.twitter.com/xRmWhB5ndp

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 26, 2025

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Sources: COPINH – LGTB Noticias – teleSUR

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