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Honduras’ fiercely contested presidential election entered a new phase of tension after centrist candidate Salvador Nasralla accused authorities of fraud when rival Nasry Asfura of the National Party overtook him in the latest vote count. Nasralla said on X that the online results platform went blank early Thursday morning, alleging that “an algorithm changed the data” just as he had been leading since Tuesday. He called for an investigation into the Colombian firm ASD, which manages Honduras’ ballot-processing system.
The electoral council (CNE) defended the integrity of the process, noting that tally sheets with inconsistencies were excluded from the official count and will undergo review before the December 30 deadline. CNE president Ana Paola Hall urged patience, emphasizing that legitimacy requires careful verification. CNE official Marlon Ochoa, however, criticized the tabulation system, citing glitches, alleged vote-buying, intimidation, and what he called “vulgar foreign intervention.” He described the vote as potentially the least transparent in the nation’s democratic history.
With about 87% of tally sheets processed, Asfura held 40.25%, a narrow lead of roughly 23,900 votes over Nasralla, who stood at 39.39%. LIBRE Party candidate Rixi Moncada trailed in third place. Around 17% of tally sheets show irregularities and will be reviewed. Although Nasralla offered no concrete proof of tampering, he warned against a repeat of past late-night shifts in vote totals, referencing former electoral chief David Matamoros Batson and previous disputed elections.
The chaotic reporting process has fueled public frustration, even as election observers described Sunday’s voting as peaceful. International scrutiny increased after U.S. President Donald Trump strongly backed Asfura, alleged fraud without evidence, and recently pardoned ex-Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández. Despite rising political tension, Tegucigalpa remained calm while citizens awaited the final results, which will determine the next president in a single-round, winner-takes-all contest.
