Honduras Elects a New Future

On November 30th, just two days after historic presidential
elections in Honduras, conservative ruling party candidate Nasry
Asfura conceded defeat in the Presidential Election paving the
way for his Libre Party rival Xiomara Castro to become the first
female leader of the Central American country. With over 52
percent of the votes tallied by the evening of November 30,
Castro had 53.4 percent support.


Although the electoral council has not published preliminary vote
totals for congressional races, early results point to a possible
majority for Castro's Libre Party and its main allies.


As Asfura's concession brings to an end a turbulent period under
the US supported National Party which has been dogged by scandals
and corruption accusations especially during the two terms of
outgoing President Juan Orland Hernandez.


Hernandez is deeply unpopular and has been implicated in a drug
trafficking case in a US federal court. His brother is already in
prison. He denies wrongdoing but could face an indictment when he
leaves office.


Castro's victory will see the center-left return to power after a
12-year hiatus that followed the ousting of her husband, former
president Manuel Zelaya, in a US backed coup in 2009.


Joining today's conversation to discuss the historic presidential
elections in Honduras on November 28th is journalist Alina
Duarte. Alina hosts and produces a Sunday afternoon news hour on
Sin Censura. She is a reporter for Canal Catorce in Mexico City
and is also a journalist with Nuestra Red.


Alina and I were election observers with CESPAD (Centro de
Estudio para Democracia) in Honduras on November 28th. She with
the Nuestra Red contingent and me with the Global Exchange team.