Nasry Asfura has been declared winner of Honduras' presidential election after a weeks-long, tightly contested count left the country in limbo. Asfura edged Salvador Nasralla 40.27% to 39.53%, while LIBRE's candidate finished third with 19.19%. The delayed tally and a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump prompted fraud claims and wide international attention. Observers say the outcome reflects a broader rightward trend in parts of Latin America.
Trump-Backed Nasry Asfura Narrowly Wins Honduras Presidency After Contested, Weeks-Long Count
Nasry Asfura, presidential candidate for the National Party, gestures during general elections in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Electoral authorities announced Wednesday that Nasry Asfura, a conservative candidate who received a late endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been declared the winner of Honduras' presidential election after a protracted and contentious vote count.
Supporters of the National Party celebrate as the National Electoral Council decelerate presidential candidate Nasry Asfura the winner of Honduras' presidential election in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Close Result and Controversy
Asfura, the former mayor of Tegucigalpa and the nominee of the National Party, captured 40.27% of the vote in the Nov. 30 election, narrowly defeating four-time contender Salvador Nasralla of the center-right Liberal Party, who finished with 39.53%. The democratic socialist Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE) candidate trailed in third with 19.19%.
FILE - National Party presidential candidate Nasry Asfura speaks to supporters during a closing campaign rally, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Elmer Martinez, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Delayed Count and International Scrutiny
The race was decided only after a weeks-long tally that strained public trust in Honduras' electoral institutions. The slow counting process, including a special review of the final tallies, left the nation in limbo for more than three weeks and prompted concerns from international observers and foreign governments.
Supporters of the National Party celebrate after the National Electoral Council declared presidential candidate Nasry Asfura the winner of Honduras' presidential election in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“Honduras: I am prepared to govern. I will not let you down,” Asfura posted on X shortly after the results were announced.
Asfura’s supporters celebrated at campaign headquarters as officials released the results. Opponents, including Nasralla, accused election authorities of fraud and said the announcement amounted to a betrayal of voters.
Presidential candidate Nasry Asfura, of the National Party, gives a press conference in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
External Reactions and Accusations
Former President Trump publicly endorsed Asfura days before the election, a move that opponents said amounted to electoral interference. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and several international leaders — including Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei — as well as the European Union, issued congratulations to Asfura.
The Organization of American States (OAS) said it “takes note” of the reported outcome and is closely monitoring developments. Observers criticized the timing of the announcement while a final 0.07% of votes was still being tallied, given the razor-thin margin between the top two candidates.
Political Implications
For incumbent President Xiomara Castro and her LIBRE party, the result is a political setback. Castro, elected in 2021 on a platform to fight corruption and reduce violence, said she would accept the outcome even as she characterized outside interference as an "electoral coup." Independent observers, however, suggested the defeat of LIBRE was decisive enough that a successful challenge to the result was unlikely.
Eric Olson, an international observer with the Seattle International Foundation, said critics could claim fraud or intervention, but few within LIBRE argue they actually won the election outright.
—— Janetsky reported from Mexico City.
