The context of the primary elections in Honduras and the role of the United States

The bilateral relationship between the United States and Honduras has faced many challenges, which aggravated themselves under the Trump administration. A few Decision factorsEspecially from the Republican Party, see the government of President Xiomara Castro as a threat to bilateral relations due to his political and commercial links and his support for authoritarian regimes in Nicaragua and Venezuela. During his time tour From Central America in early February 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not include Honduras on his itinerary, sending a strong message.

During his first term, the Trump administration has maintained a good diplomatic relationship with former Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernández, who accidentally was extradited to the United States in 2022 and convict on Drug trafficking taxes in 2024. During the process there were also revelations about Electoral fraud Employed by Hernández during the 2017 elections. A close advisor to President Trump, Roger StoneHowever, he recently claimed that Hernández was criminalized “because he was in the way of the authoritarian socialist government of Honduras and his globalist plans to destroy freedom.” These statements raise many questions about the future of US-Honduran Relations Despite the recent announcement of President Castro according to which she will support Extradition treaty and cooperates with the deportation plans of the Trump administration, including receiving Venezueleni migrants on the route to be repatriated by the Venezuelan government.

Against this uncertainty, on March 9, Honduras political parties will organize primary elections at Select the candidates For the general elections of November 30, 2025. Below are key points to consider in terms of American mayors and cooperation in support of the country elections:

Three political parties with serious internal struggles and controversial candidates at Presidency

Currently, three political parties compete in elections against the background of an extremely polarized political landscape:

• Liberty and Refundation (Libre) partyWhich is open on the left, has appointed the current secretary of Rixi Moncada defense, who has strong support from President Xiomara Castro and former President Manuel Zelaya. Moncada maintained close ties With the United States in its current role, but it must resign to be eligible as a candidate. Another candidate is Rasel Tomé, the current vice -president of the Congress, which was sanctioned by the US in accordance with section 353 for corrupt and antidemocratic actors.
• National Party (PN)positioned as right to the far right, has four candidates including Ana GarcíaThe wife of former President Juan Orlando Hernández. It is also Nasry Asfura, which is currently facing and currently corruption Taxes. The other candidates are Jorge Zelaya and Roberto Martínez.
• Liberal Party (PL)A centrist party, appointed Jorge Cálix, a dissident from Libre, who was a strong opposition voice. Another suitor is Salvador Nasralla who has actively engaged with US decision makers and promised to restore ties with Taiwan. Both candidates quoted presidents Nayib Bukele and Javier Milei as models to follow. Also, the congress woman Maribel Espinoza and Luis Zelaya, who denounced the internal irregularities before the primary, are also.

There is the possibility that PL can look for an opposition alliance, especially if Jorge Cálix wins the mayor, as he did before He collaborated with PN.

US -stop cooperation has an impact on electoral institutions and civil society

Although Organizing US states (OES) It will send a technical team for the primary, there is no sufficient financing guarantee for a complete electoral observation mission for the general elections in November. The ability of the organizations of national and international civil society to monitor and observe the elections was also affected by freezing the US external assistance funds. This could have a significant impact on the integrity of the general elections, because the political context and the complexity of the process require greater supervision.

International organizations supported by the US have suspended their technical and financial assistance project. For example, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), which offered key technical advice to the National Electoral Council (CNE), stopped support.

Similarly, the Democrat National Institute (NDI) was forced to interrupt the efforts to coordinate the initiatives of civil society through the “Red-H” coalition, which included the academic environment, the private sector, the religious groups and the civil society. In countries such as Guatemala, such coalitions have been critical in defending democracy and electoral integrity.

The monitoring of the financing of the campaigns and the consolidation “Unidad of Política Limpia” is essential

The illicit electoral financing and the lack of responsibility have seriously undermined the democratic governance, feeding the corruption and structural impunity in Honduras. process From Juan Orlando Hernández he revealed how drug trafficking and transnational organized crime have infiltrated both in the local and high level, including armed forces and police.

It is crucial for the electoral authorities to properly audit the financing of the political party and to adopt new transparency practices regarding their sources of financing. This is essential to prevent criminal networks from influencing the government to ensure impunity for their illicit activities, including money laundering and violence.

Electoral regulations require all candidates to open a bank account to receive campaign donations. However, only 1.233 Out of 5,800 candidates (21%) have complied with this requirement.

The clean policy unit (Unidad of Limpia Políticica) is facing several challenges in applying transparency, including:

• A Privacy Agreement from the Institute of Access to Public Information, which prevents the public from knowing who finances political parties.
• Our lack Technical and financial assistanceaffecting projects such as a social networks monitoring software that the unit can no longer afford.

Risks of electoral violence against the background of territorial and environmental conflicts

There were alarming attacks on the electoral authorities, as reported by Ana Paola Hall, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), who received threats and intimidation. Electoral violence and attacks on candidates also have raisedwith at least three municipal candidates assassin.

This violence reflects the territorial disputes at the municipal level and the power struggles among drug trafficking and organized crime groups. Honduras occupies the 10th place on The global peace index Among 12 countries in Central and Caribbean America, led by internal conflicts, corruption, organized crime and illicit economies.

Strong criminal networks and illegal economies, often related to extractive industries such as mining, agriculture and forestry, deals with indigenous and rural lands. This exploitation fuels violence, forced displacement and attacks on environmental defenders, as seen in the Guapinol River region, led by conflict and in the mosquitia.

Conclusion

Honduran authorities must provide free, transparent and correct choices. While the National Congress of approved The electoral budget-the consolidation of the financing for processes such as the transmission services of the SmartMatic data is crucial for the decision makers to assume a real commitment in monitoring the campaign financing and the consolidation of the interinstitutional coordination, especially with the Prosecutor’s Office.

In addition, the United States should restore cooperation with both electoral institutions and civil society to guarantee electoral integrity, especially in the efforts to observe internal and international electoral.

At the Same Time, the US Government, Through Agents Like the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcer Affairs (Inl), Must RedoBLE its Efforts to Combat Crime – Reducing the Risks posed by Illici Financing and Political Violence at Both Municipal and National levels.