Image: from Foro Madrid X@Foro_MAD
By Open Chronicle Staff | December 25, 2025
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — In a landmark decision that has sparked both celebration and fierce opposition, the National Electoral Council (CNE) officially declared Nasry “Papi” Asfura of the National Party as the president-elect of Honduras. The proclamation, issued on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, confirms a narrow victory for the conservative candidate following a tense month-long wait since the general elections held on November 30.
The Final Tally: A Razor-Thin Margin
The CNE’s official resolution confirms that the race was one of the closest in Honduran history. Asfura managed to secure the presidency by a margin of less than one percentage point.
| Candidate | Political Party | Total Votes | Percentage |
| Nasry Asfura | National Party (PNH) | 1,479,822 | 40.26% |
| Salvador Nasralla | Liberal Party (PLH) | 1,452,796 | 39.54% |
| Rixi Moncada | Libre Party | 705,428 | 19.19% |
The CNE declaration states that Asfura will serve a four-year term beginning January 27, 2026, and ending in 2030.
Controversy and Rejection
The results were immediately rejected by the runner-up, Salvador Nasralla. During a press conference following the announcement, Nasralla claimed the tally “does not reflect the truth” of the popular will and criticized the CNE for issuing a declaration before every vote was scrutinized.
“For the fourth consecutive time, they have denied me that opportunity,” Nasralla stressed. “It is not a whim—results should not have been issued without counting all the votes.”
The National Party, while victorious, faces significant public skepticism due to the legacy of the 2010–2022 period, which was marred by corruption allegations and high-profile drug trafficking convictions.
The “Trump Factor” and Geopolitical Implications
A defining element of the election was the late-stage intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump. In the final days of the campaign, Trump threw his weight behind Asfura, describing him as the “only true friend of freedom in Honduras.”
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Strategic Partnership: Trump promised “a lot of support” for Honduras under Asfura, framing the alliance as a front against “narco-communists” and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
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The JOH Pardon: This support coincided with a controversial presidential pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of Asfura’s party who had been convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.
The Road Ahead: 2026-2030
Asfura, a politician of Palestinian origin with a background in local administration as the former mayor of Tegucigalpa, now faces a deeply polarized nation. He inherits a country struggling with pervasive poverty and massive outward migration.
His victory signals a return to conservative governance but also ensures that the influence of Washington will remain a central pillar of Honduran domestic and foreign policy for the next four years.