Direct translation
Did Trump's threat work? Preliminary voter counts in Honduras show Right-Wing "Grandpa" in the Lead
Reporter : Chen Chengliang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/5263851 / Image : Nasry Asfura, the right-wing presidential candidate of Honduras who has received strong support from U.S. President Trump, held a press conference in the capital Tegusigaba on November 30, the day of the election. (Reuters)
Under the strong intervention of US President Trump's "threat to cut off aid," preliminary vote counts in the Honduran presidential election show that the right-wing candidate supported by Trump, Nasry Asfura, is currently in the lead, while the ruling left-wing camp is far behind. This may mark the end of left-wing rule in another Latin American country, following Argentina and Bolivia, with the political situation collectively "shifting to the right."
According to AFP, preliminary data released by the Honduran Electoral Commission shows that, with nearly half of the votes counted, 67-year-old Asfra is leading by a narrow margin with less than 41% of the vote. Closely following is another right-wing candidate, 72-year-old prominent television presenter Salvador Nasralla, with approximately 39% of the vote. Meanwhile, 60-year-old lawyer Rixi Moncada, running for the ruling Libre party of incumbent President Xiomara Castro, has been marginalized with only about 20% of the vote.
Asfra, a former mayor of the capital Tegusigaba, is affectionately known as "Grandad" due to his approachable image, and his campaign slogan is "Grandpa at your service!" However, the main protagonist of this election remains Trump, who is not even a candidate.
Trump's "No Money If He Loses" threatens election outlook
The report points out that in the final moments before the election, Trump not only publicly endorsed Asfra but also threatened on social media: "If he (Asfra) doesn't win, the United States will stop throwing money down the drain." This implied cutting off economic aid to the impoverished country. Furthermore, Trump dropped a bombshell, announcing a pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is serving time in the U.S. for drug trafficking. While this prompted Asfra to hastily sever ties, Trump's forceful intervention has clearly altered the course of the election.
A victory for either Asfra or Naslaya would signify a change of government in Honduras, ending left-wing rule. This reflects voters' choices under economic hardship and external pressure. Honduras is heavily reliant on remittances from its overseas population (accounting for 27% of GDP), and Trump's deportation of nearly 30,000 Honduran immigrants since taking office has forced many voters to consider the U.S.'s stance. Despite a right-wing lead, concerns remain about potential post-election unrest due to delays in vote counting and previous allegations of fraud between the two sides.
Image : In the Honduran presidential election, the three main candidates display their ink-stained fingers after casting their votes. From left: Nasry Asfura, currently leading with the support of US President Trump; Rixi Moncada, the ruling party's candidate; and Salvador Nasralla, the Liberal Party's candidate. (AFP)
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