Overview
- With just over 40% of polling places counted, the National Electoral Council shows Nasry “Tito” Asfura at about 41%, Salvador Nasralla near 39%, and Rixi Moncada around 20%.
- The single-round system means a simple plurality will decide the presidency, leaving Asfura and Nasralla in a close early contest as Moncada trails.
- President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura days before the vote, threatened to cut U.S. aid if he lost, and announced he intends to pardon ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández, who is serving a 45-year U.S. sentence for drug trafficking.
- Election integrity concerns persisted as the OAS urged a clean process, prosecutors probed alleged audio about influencing the vote, and the military drew criticism for seeking tally sheets; Moncada signaled she would not accept preliminary counts.
- Some voting sites reportedly closed with people still in line, international observers are monitoring potential challenges, and both Asfura and Nasralla have floated restoring ties with Taiwan severed in 2023.