Thousands Rally in Honduras Alleging Election Fraud

Thousands of supporters of Honduras’s ruling left-wing party rallied in the capital on Wednesday, alleging fraud in the presidential election as the country remains without a declared winner more than two weeks after voting.

The outcome of the November 30 election hinges on the review of thousands of ballots flagged for irregularities, a process stalled amid competing accusations from rival camps.

Conservative businessman Nasry Asfura holds a narrow lead over right-wing television host Salvador Nasralla, but disputes over the count have delayed verification. Asfura has received backing from US President Donald Trump.

In Tegucigalpa, an estimated 5,000 supporters of outgoing President Xiomara Castro denounced what they called an “electoral coup,” accusing authorities of manipulating results and allowing foreign interference.

“We must not allow the voting records to be altered,” Castro told demonstrators.

Both Castro’s Libre Party and Nasralla’s Liberal Party have demanded a vote-by-vote recount, a proposal rejected by Asfura’s National Party. Libre Party candidate Rixi Moncada, who placed a distant third, called for the election to be annulled, describing it as “the most fraudulent in history.”

The National Electoral Council has until December 30 to announce the final result.