Hondurans are heading to the polls for a pivotal general election on Sunday, November 30, 2025, an electoral process significantly overshadowed by direct intervention from United States President Donald Trump, who has openly endorsed a candidate and threatened to withdraw financial aid if his preferred contender does not win.
Voters across the Central American nation are tasked with electing not only their next president but also all 128 members of Congress and nearly 300 local representatives. This election is widely perceived as a critical juncture for Honduras, grappling with persistent issues of corruption, economic disparity, and migration, all set against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical interest.
三方总统竞选激烈，现任总统支持左翼候选人
The presidential race features five candidates, but political analysts and recent opinion polls indicate it is primarily a tight three-way contest. The leading contenders are Rixi Moncada, representing the leftist Libre party; Salvador Nasralla, a television host from the centrist Liberal party; and businessman Nasry “Tito” Asfura, from the right-wing National Party.
The incumbent president, Xiomara Castro, who made history in 2021 as Honduras’s first female president, is constitutionally barred from seeking a second consecutive four-year term. A member of the Libre party, President Castro has publicly thrown her support behind Rixi Moncada, endorsing her as the successor to continue her administration’s agenda.
Rixi Moncada, a 60-year-old lawyer, has campaigned on a platform centered on protecting Honduras’s “natural wealth” from what she terms “21st-century filibusters who want to privatise everything.” A key pillar of her campaign is a strong commitment to combating corruption “in all its forms,” a pledge that resonates deeply in a country frequently plagued by graft scandals.
Nasry Asfura, the former mayor of the capital, Tegucigalpa, has articulated a vision focused on economic growth and job creation. Through various social media posts, Asfura has promised to bring “development and opportunities for everyone,” to “facilitate foreign and domestic investment into the country,” and to “generate employment for all.” His platform aims to attract capital and stimulate the economy, appealing to voters seeking stability and prosperity.
Salvador Nasralla, a prominent media personality, has reportedly taken the lead in the most recent opinion polls. However, the electoral landscape remains highly unpredictable, with a significant 34% of voters still undecided. This large bloc of uncommitted voters suggests that the final outcome could swing in any direction, making the election a nail-biting finish for all three leading campaigns.
美国总统特朗普公开干预，威胁削减援助
The election has drawn unusual and direct attention from Washington, specifically from US President Donald Trump. In the days leading up to the vote, and even on election day, President Trump publicly endorsed Nasry Asfura, using his social media platform, Truth Social, to issue strong statements of support. More controversially, Trump explicitly threatened to cut financial aid to Honduras if Asfura fails to win the presidency.
In one post, Trump stated, “If he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is.” He further elaborated his rationale in another post, suggesting that he and Asfura could “work together to fight the Narcocommunists” and counter drug trafficking, a term that carries significant ideological weight and has been used by some to describe left-leaning governments or groups perceived as linked to drug cartels.
This direct intervention has not gone unnoticed in Honduras. On Saturday, Rixi Moncada sharply criticized Trump’s actions, labeling his endorsement of her right-wing opponent as “totally interventionist.” Such remarks highlight the sensitivity surrounding external influence in sovereign electoral processes, particularly from a powerful neighbor like the United States.
The United States has historically been a significant provider of financial assistance to Honduras. According to the US State Department website, the US sent more than $193 million (approximately 1.38 billion RMB) to Honduras in the last fiscal year. Despite reported aid cuts, the country has received over $102 million (approximately 730 million RMB) this year. Furthermore, the US Congress website indicates that the Trump Administration had already reportedly cut $167 million (approximately 1.2 billion RMB) in economic and governance aid that had been earmarked for 2024 and 2025. The explicit linkage of future aid to the election outcome raises concerns about the use of humanitarian and development assistance as a political leverage tool.
国民党腐败丑闻缠身，前总统贩毒罪名引争议
Nasry Asfura’s National Party has faced significant scrutiny in recent years due to a series of scandals and persistent corruption accusations. These issues have deeply impacted the party’s public image and trust among the electorate. A particularly high-profile case involves former party leader and ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced last year to 45 years in a US prison on drug-smuggling and weapons charges. This conviction was a major blow to the party and underscored the deep-seated challenges of corruption within the Honduran political system.
Adding another layer of complexity to this situation, President Trump has publicly stated his intention to “overturn” Hernández’s conviction. The specific mechanisms or legal basis through which a US president might attempt to overturn a federal court conviction of a foreign national are not immediately clear and would likely face significant legal and constitutional challenges. This declaration, however, further intertwines the Honduran election with US domestic politics and judicial processes, potentially signaling a willingness to interfere with established legal outcomes for political ends.
The allegations of corruption against the National Party and the conviction of its former leader are critical issues for Honduran voters. The prospect of a president from a party with such a history, especially one whose former leader’s conviction is now being questioned by a foreign head of state, adds a contentious dimension to the election. It forces voters to weigh promises of economic development against concerns about accountability and the rule of law.
外部干预与内部挑战交织，洪都拉斯民主进程面临考验
The 2025 Honduran general election is unfolding amidst a complex interplay of domestic political dynamics and significant external influence. The overt intervention by US President Donald Trump, through his endorsement of Nasry Asfura and the threat to cut vital financial aid, marks a notable departure from conventional diplomatic protocols regarding sovereign elections. This move has sparked considerable debate about the principles of national sovereignty and the integrity of democratic processes in smaller nations, particularly in Latin America, a region with a history of US intervention.
From a Honduran perspective, such actions can be perceived as an infringement on their right to self-determination. While the US has legitimate interests in regional stability, counter-narcotics efforts, and migration control, directly linking aid to electoral outcomes risks undermining the legitimacy of the democratic process and potentially fostering resentment among the populace. The US has provided substantial aid to Honduras, which plays a role in supporting economic development, governance, and security initiatives. The potential withdrawal of this aid could have tangible negative impacts on various sectors, from public health to infrastructure projects, thereby affecting the daily lives of ordinary Hondurans.
The political landscape within Honduras is already fraught with challenges. The enduring issue of corruption, exemplified by the scandals surrounding the National Party and the conviction of former President Juan Orlando Hernández, remains a central concern for voters. Rixi Moncada’s strong anti-corruption stance directly addresses this sentiment, appealing to those who seek a fundamental shift in governance. Conversely, Nasry Asfura’s focus on economic growth and foreign investment speaks to the aspirations for prosperity and job creation, which are equally pressing concerns for many Hondurans.
President Trump’s use of terms like “Narcocommunists” to describe political opponents or perceived threats further complicates the narrative. This highly charged rhetoric can exacerbate political polarization, framing the election not just as a choice between policy platforms but as a battle against an ideologically defined enemy. Such language, while potentially mobilizing a specific base, can also alienate others and contribute to a more confrontational political environment.
The high percentage of undecided voters, as indicated by recent polls, underscores the deep divisions and uncertainties within the Honduran electorate. It suggests that a significant portion of the population is still weighing their options, possibly influenced by the competing promises of the candidates, the shadow of past corruption, and the unprecedented external pressures. The outcome of this election will not only determine the future leadership of Honduras but also test the resilience of its democratic institutions in the face of both internal challenges and powerful external forces.
参考来源
- Hondurans vote in election shadowed by Trump aid threats — BBC News（2025-11-30）：查看原文