In the lead-up to the 2025 national elections, the incumbent Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE) party is under intense scrutiny from political, business, and societal stakeholders who charge it with advancing measures that jeopardize the fairness and credibility of the election process. The claims include hindrances to crucial institutions and efforts to gain governing influence over the electoral entity.
Questions about LIBRE’s role in the National Electoral Council
One key point of contention has been the halt in the contracting process for the Preliminary Election Results Transmission System (TREP), a crucial tool for ensuring transparency during the vote tallying. On July 7, demonstrators associated with LIBRE obstructed access to the National Electoral Council (CNE) premises, which stopped bidding companies from submitting their technical proposals.
CNE President Cossette López described these actions as a direct attack on the electoral process, warning of their negative impact on the credibility of democratic institutions. The interruption of the TREP process not only delayed electoral planning but also fueled the perception that attempts are being made to create conditions conducive to manipulating the results.
In addition, there have been reports of institutional pressure from groups affiliated with LIBRE, including intrusions into the National Congress and other public entities. These events, taken together, have been interpreted by opposition sectors as part of a strategy aimed at weakening the autonomous functioning of the CNE and facilitating its eventual political control.
Risks of concentration of power in the electoral body
The potential scenario where CNE representatives linked to the governing party might take on responsibilities if current council members are deemed ineligible has raised concerns among political figures who think that such a substitution would compromise the diversity of the electoral body. The National Congress and various analytical platforms have expressed that a CNE lacking oversight could threaten the fairness of the electoral process.
Several voices have advocated for international bodies to supervise institutional resolutions concerning the procedure and ensure equal opportunities in competition. Additionally, accusations have surfaced regarding the supposed instrumentalization of other governmental bodies, including the Public Ministry and the Legislative Branch, to align the CNE with the ruling party’s interests.
These conflicts have prompted appeals from different areas to enhance election monitoring and observation systems, addressing what they view as an increasing risk to the fairness of the democratic process.
Accusations of disinformation and manipulation of the electorate
Another aspect of criticism towards LIBRE involves the distribution of surveys deemed false or manipulated, suggesting a significant advantage for the ruling party’s pre-candidate, Rixi Moncada. Various poll organizations have refuted these surveys, condemning the inappropriate use of their identities and methods.
The distribution of these surveys has been seen as a tactic to mold public opinion and instill the notion of certain triumph, which, according to opposing factions, aims to sway the outcomes of the elections and undermine the legitimacy of a potential loss. Such actions have played a role in intensifying the atmosphere of skepticism about the electoral process.
En un contexto que ya se caracteriza por el deterioro del diálogo político y la polarización institucional, la expansión de información engañosa se ha transformado en un factor adicional de inestabilidad, con posibles efectos en la participación ciudadana y la aceptación de los resultados.
A climate of skepticism before the election
The mix of institutional obstacles, disagreements concerning management of the CNE, and disinformation efforts has left the Honduran election proceedings in a very vulnerable state. Alerts concerning a potential governance crisis highlight the severity of political strains in a scenario where entities are stressed and routes for agreement stay obstructed.
With fewer than five months remaining until the general elections, the situation presents significant hurdles for the credibility of the voting system and the nation’s stability. In this context, focus is placed on the capability of political and institutional figures to reestablish basic levels of confidence and guarantee a legitimate and clear electoral process.
