Honduras' electoral authority declares Nasry Asfura constitutional President

TEGUCIGALPA: Honduras' National Electoral Council (CNE) said Wednesday that National Party candidate Nasry Asfura was elected the country's constitutional president in the general elections held on Nov 30, reported Xinhua.

According to official CNE data, Asfura won 40.27 per cent of the vote, followed by the candidate of the Liberal Party, Salvador Nasralla, who garnered 39.53 per cent of all ballots, and Rixi Moncada from the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party, who obtained 19.19 per cent of the vote.

The CNE's announcement was made 24 days after the election day, following postponements due to malfunctions in the vote-counting system claimed by relevant authorities and allegations of irregularities by several political actors who claimed that these could constitute electoral fraud.

Before the election day, US President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura and suggested that US aid to Honduras could be withheld if Asfura did not win.

On Dec 9, Honduran President Xiomara Castro condemned what she described as external interference in the country's elections, saying the electoral process was marked by "threats, coercion and manipulation." She specifically criticised Trump's involvement and comments as undermining Honduran sovereignty and democratic norms.

--BERNAMA-XINHUA