Honduras Election: Trump-Backed Nasry Asfura Wins by Less Than 1% Margin

A race decided by less than one percent. Nasry Asfura, a conservative candidate backed by United States President Donald Trump, has won the closely contested presidential election in Honduras. The final results, announced more than 20 days after the vote, are likely to spark challenges in the Central American nation.

A Contested Outcome

According to the country's electoral authority, known as the CNE, Asfura secured 40.3 percent of the vote, narrowly edging out center-right Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla, who received 39.5 percent. In a brief social media post on Wednesday, Asfura thanked the CNE and wrote, "Honduras: I am prepared to govern. I will not fail you." Left-wing candidate Rixi Moncada garnered less than 20 percent of the votes.

Washington's Quick Endorsement

The Trump administration's role was prominent throughout the campaign, with the president strongly supporting Asfura while attacking his opponents. Following the announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to congratulate the president-elect. "The people of Honduras have spoken: Nasry Asfura is Honduras’ next president,” Rubio wrote, urging all parties to respect the result.

This swift endorsement comes shortly after President Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez earlier this month. Hernandez, a member of Asfura's National Party, was serving a lengthy prison sentence in the US for drug trafficking, a move that has drawn widespread criticism.