Close Call: Trump-Backed Nasry Asfura Triumphs in Honduran Election

Fri Dec 26 2025 04:59:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a tightly contested election marked by controversy and delays, Trump-supported candidate Nasry Asfura emerged victorious. Asfura's win prompts questions about electoral integrity and the implications for U.S.-Honduras relations.

Nasry Asfura of the National Party has won the Honduran presidential election with 40.3% of the vote, narrowly defeating Salvador Nasralla who received 39.5%. Despite allegations of fraud and technical delays during the counting process, U.S. officials have expressed commitment to working with Asfura's administration. Tensions have risen in the country, with calls for calm amidst protests for electoral justice.

Nasry Asfura has been declared the winner of Honduras' razor-thin presidential election, after weeks of delays following technical problems and allegations of fraud.

The conservative National Party candidate - backed by US President Donald Trump - won with 40.3% of the vote, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE), edging out Salvador Nasralla of the centre-right Liberal Party, who got 39.5%.

In a post on X, Asfura said: Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down. Meanwhile, Nasralla said at a press conference: I will not accept a result built on omissions. But he also urged his supporters to remain calm.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged all parties to respect the result so that Honduran authorities may ensure a peaceful transition of authority. But the president of the country's Congress, Luis Redondo, posted saying the result was completely illegal.

The vote was held on 30 November but the count was delayed twice by technical outages, which electoral officials called inexcusable. The president of the CNE, Ana Paola Hall, blamed the private company tasked with tabulating the results for the delay.

Results of the election were tight and, because of the tumultuous nature of the processing system, around 15% of the tally sheets had to be counted by hand for the winner to be decided.

Tensions in Honduras have increased due to the delays, with protests held across the country. Thousands of supporters of the governing Libre party demonstrated in the capital Tegucigalpa over what they considered fraud in the vote.

The outgoing President, Xiomara Castro, had alleged an electoral coup and indicated interference from Trump. When he endorsed Asfura, Trump warned of consequences if the close lead was overturned in the count.

In a surprising move, Trump also pardoned a member of Asfura's National Party serving a 45-year jail sentence in the US on drug and weapons charges.

Nasralla accused corrupt people of manipulating the vote count and stated that Trump's comments had adversely affected his election chances.

In his statement following the result, Rubio expressed hopes for cooperation to advance bilateral and regional security, as well as addressing illegal immigration, with Asfura's incoming administration.