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13h ago

Honduras Opens Special Hand Count in Razor-Thin Presidential Race Following US Pressure

International observers report no systemic fraud, with a limited hand count proceeding under tight legal constraints.

Supporters of the Liberty and Refoundation party protest in front of the presidential palace in support of Honduran President Xiomara Castro in what she called an "electoral coup" unfolding amid a chaotic recount of votes from the November 30 presidential election, marked by technical glitches, allegations of fraud, and the shadow of US President Donald Trump, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras December 17, 2025. The banner reads: "No to the electoral boycott." REUTERS/Leonel Estrada/File Photo
Staff members of presidential candidate Nasry Asfura of Honduras' National Party participate in the recount of electoral records two weeks after the presidential election, as voting remains stalled amid uncounted ballots, accusations of fraud and electoral system failures, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, December 17, 2025. REUTERS/Leonel Estrada
An electoral worker hands out voting material as residents vote a week late in a special election after the local governing party kept voting closed on election day, amid accusations of sabotage and fraud, in a presidential race still too close to call as counting continues, in San Antonio de Flores, Honduras, December 7, 2025. REUTERS/Leonel Estrada/ File Photo
Supporters of the party LIBRE, Liberty and Refoundation, protest the general election results in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Overview

  • The National Electoral Council began a manual review of 2,792 flagged tally sheets, roughly 15% of votes, in the presence of national and international observers.
  • Conservative Nasry Asfura holds a preliminary lead of about 43,000 votes over Salvador Nasralla, but officials say the hand count could change the result.
  • Protests led by the ruling LIBRE party blocked electoral facilities and delayed the process as President Xiomara Castro and allies alleged fraud and demanded a vote-by-vote recount.
  • CNE president Ana Paola Hall said there is no legal basis for a full recount without concrete evidence, and the council must certify results by December 30.
  • The United States urged an immediate count and warned against disruptions, while EU and OAS missions reported no systemic fraud and the armed forces pledged to respect the final outcome.