Nasry Asfura was declared the winner of Honduras’ presidential election on Wednesday, ending weeks of uncertainty following a razor-thin vote marked by delays and allegations of fraud.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) said the 67-year-old conservative businessman defeated rival Salvador Nasralla by less than one percentage point. Official results showed Asfura securing 40.1% of the vote, compared with Nasralla’s 39.5%.
Asfura’s victory returns the right wing to power after four years under leftist President Xiomara Castro. It also places Honduras alongside a growing list of Latin American countries that have recently shifted toward conservative leadership.
“Honduras: I’m ready to govern. I won’t let you down,” Asfura wrote on X after the announcement, thanking election authorities for validating the results. Leftist candidate Rixi Moncada of the Libre Party finished third with 19.2%, according to the CNE.
🚨🗳️#ÚLTIMAHORA | Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) declara a Nasry Asfura como presidente electo de Honduras para el período 2026–2030. pic.twitter.com/IA1z54Z0iy
— TSiHonduras (@TSiHonduras) December 24, 2025The United States swiftly welcomed Asfura’s election. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington looked forward to working with the incoming administration to strengthen security cooperation, curb illegal immigration, and deepen economic ties. Argentina’s President Javier Milei, a close ally of Donald Trump, described the outcome as a “resounding defeat of narco-socialism.”
Delays, disputes and protests
Authorities announced the result more than three weeks after the November 30 vote. The prolonged count fueled political tension and sparked claims of irregularities.
Nasralla demanded a full recount and has not recognised Asfura’s victory. Electoral officials reviewed nearly 2,800 tally sheets flagged for inconsistencies before confirming the outcome. Supporters of the ruling Libre Party staged protests in Tegucigalpa last week, alleging fraud and a lack of transparency in the process.
The people of Honduras have spoken: Nasry Asfura is Honduras’ next president. The United States congratulates President-Elect @titoasfura @papialaordenh and looks forward to working with his administration to advance prosperity and security in our hemisphere.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) December 24, 2025The election unfolded against a charged political backdrop. On the eve of the vote, Trump issued a surprise pardon to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of Asfura’s party who had been serving a lengthy US prison sentence for drug trafficking. Trump also publicly endorsed Asfura and warned of consequences if the result were overturned.
Asfura will take office on January 27. He inherits a deeply polarised country of about 11 million people, with lingering doubts over the election’s credibility. He has pledged to attract foreign investment and restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which Honduras severed in 2023 in favour of China.
Security remains a major challenge. Honduras continues to grapple with gang violence and drug trafficking. Although murder rates have fallen, the country still recorded around 27 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024, making it one of the region’s most violent nations. Asfura now faces the task of uniting a divided electorate while delivering on promises of economic recovery and improved security.
*With additional information incorporated from AFP reporting
