Honduras' electoral authority declares Nasry Asfura constitutional president

An aerial drone file photo taken on March 21, 2024 shows a city view of Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras. Honduras' National Electoral Council (CNE) said Wednesday that National Party candidate Nasry Asfura was elected the country's constitutional president in the general elections held on Nov. 30. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

TEGUCIGALPA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Honduras' National Electoral Council (CNE) said Wednesday that National Party candidate Nasry Asfura was elected the country's constitutional president in the general elections held on Nov. 30.

According to official CNE data, Asfura won 40.27 percent of the vote, followed by the candidate of the Liberal Party, Salvador Nasralla, who garnered 39.53 percent of all ballots, and Rixi Moncada from the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party, who obtained 19.19 percent of the vote.

The CNE's announcement was made 24 days after the election day, following postponements due to malfunctions in the vote-counting system claimed by relevant authorities and allegations of irregularities by several political actors who claimed that these could constitute electoral fraud.

Before the election day, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura and suggested that U.S. aid to Honduras could be withheld if Asfura did not win.

On Dec. 9, Honduran President Xiomara Castro condemned what she described as external interference in the country's elections, saying the electoral process was marked by "threats, coercion and manipulation." She specifically criticized Trump's involvement and comments as undermining Honduran sovereignty and democratic norms. ■