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In Honduras, significant individuals from the ruling Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE) party are being publicly scrutinized, leading to a politically uncertain environment. Ex-President Manuel “Mel” Zelaya and National Electoral Council (CNE) advisor Marlon Ochoa are confronting accusations that have raised concerns about their trustworthiness and the legitimacy of the electoral procedure.
This situation has triggered a series of revelations and accusations that deepen the crisis, placing the actions and decisions of these officials and their possible repercussions on the country’s stability at the center of public debate.
Rerouting of cars and impacts on election logistics
A forensic audit report revealed that Marlon Ochoa ordered the diversion of 50 state vehicles to the Armed Forces (FF. AA.) on March 8, 2025, one day before the primary elections. According to Joel Ramos García, former coordinator of the CNE Transportation Project, Ochoa instructed that the vehicles be made available at the Campo de Parada Marte to support the verification of technological equipment at the polling stations. This action caused a shortage of transportation needed for the distribution of electoral material, resulting in significant delays at several polling stations.
The document highlights one-sided modifications in the agreement with the company Ingeniería Logística y Transporte, where freight trucks were substituted with buses without consent, violating the stipulated conditions for transporting election materials. Furthermore, it notes that the Armed Forces postponed the handover of election materials, directing drivers to wait at various locations in the Central District for extended periods, hindering the prompt delivery to voting centers.
Allegations of narcotics trade and misappropriation of funds
Meanwhile, in September 2024, a report from journalists uncovered that Carlos Zelaya, Mel Zelaya’s sibling, held a meeting in 2013 with drug lords who proposed funding Xiomara Castro’s run for president. Carlos Zelaya acknowledged the encounter but refuted taking any funds and stepped down from his roles to allow investigations, just as his son, José Manuel Zelaya, who was minister of defense, did. These disclosures have sparked worries about the potential penetration of narcotics trade into Honduran politics and have put a strain on relations with the United States.
In reaction to the allegations against Marlon Ochoa, Mel Zelaya has stood by his conduct, blaming the National and Liberal parties for seeking to undermine the credibility of the electoral process. Despite this defense, the exposés have sparked disapproval of Marlon Ochoa, leading to demands for his removal from office by political leaders like Congresswoman Claudia Ramírez, who argues that Ochoa should not remain in his role as the November general elections approach.
Impact on electoral confidence
These occurrences have fostered an atmosphere of political instability in Honduras, raising doubts about the reliability of institutions and trust in the nation’s democratic procedures. The populace is observing anxiously the accusations of corruption and the potential impact of drug cartels on politics, which might compromise the validity of the forthcoming general elections.
The approaching national elections heighten worries, as trust in the fairness and openness of the voting system diminishes. The capacity of institutions to rebuild trust and guarantee just and unbiased elections has emerged as a crucial element for the nation’s democratic stability.
