Protests halt Honduras recount

Protests blocked a scheduled hand recount of ballots from Honduras’s disputed November 30 presidential election after demonstrators gathered outside the National Institute of Professional Training, preventing election workers from starting the review. Hundreds of supporters of rival parties burned tires, waved flags and accused authorities of fraud and foreign interference, with some calling for the annulment of the vote and a full hand recount. Demonstrators said the tallying process suffered threats, technical failures and opaque procedures; former President Mel Zelaya urged LIBRE party supporters to demand a manual recount of every ballot.

The stalled special recount targeted roughly 15% of tally sheets — hundreds of thousands of ballots — flagged for inconsistencies that could alter the standings of the two frontrunners. Preliminary results show conservative Nasry Asfura leading with 40.54% and center-right Salvador Nasralla trailing on 39.19%, a gap of about 43,000 votes; ruling-party candidate Rixi Moncada stands in third with 19.29%. Officials warned that the disputed sheets under review might flip the positions of Asfura and Nasralla.

While voting on election day was largely calm, the post-election tabulation has been beset by confusion and conflict, including system failures, reporting delays and partisan disputes. Protesters and party leaders argued the recount lacked credibility and demanded greater transparency and international observation; some called for the resignation of electoral officials. Authorities attempted to secure counting centers and said the recount aimed to resolve complaints filed by several parties, but acknowledged that disruptions have slowed progress.

The electoral dispute has drawn international attention and accusations of outside interference, with political actors pointing to foreign influence as complicating the process. Business groups and civil-society organizations warned that prolonged uncertainty could damage the fragile economy and deter investment, while human-rights monitors urged restraint amid fears that escalating rhetoric might spark violence. Electoral authorities reiterated their commitment to completing the verification but acknowledged that rebuilding public trust will be as difficult as finishing the recount itself.