Honduras resumed the slow and controversial counting of votes cast in the November 30 presidential election on Monday, with two right-wing candidates continuing their uneven battle.
According to the results so far of the extremely slow process, right-wing businessman Nasri Asfora, candidate for the National Party (PN), openly supported by US President Donald Trump, holds a narrow lead over TV presenter Salvador Nasralla, 72, candidate for the Liberal Party (PL).
In third place, far below, is Rixi Moncada, a lawyer and candidate for outgoing President Ximora Castro's LIBRE party.
The count had been suspended since Friday.
On Monday, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE, the electoral commission), Ana Paola Hall, announced via X that "after the completion of the technical work (accompanied by external verification), the data is now being updated in the context of the publication of the results."
The count is progressing very slowly — it has only reached 90% of the ballots — due to growing impatience among candidates and citizens and allegations of fraud.
Ms. Hall attributed the delay to technical problems faced by the Colombian company that had undertaken the count.
For his part, Mr. Nasralla denounced “corrupt individuals” who were “obstructing” the process.
LIBRE demanded the “simply annulment” of the elections and called for “mobilizations,” “demonstrations,” and “strikes,” urging government officials not to cooperate in the transfer of power.
The party that elected the outgoing government also announced that it was calling an "extraordinary assembly for national dignity" on December 13.
Xiomara Castro has not yet commented on her party's announcements.
The CNE has until December 30, according to the law, to declare the winner of the elections.
