[ad_1]
Tegucigalpa — Left-wing opposition candidate Xiomara Castro claimed victory in the Honduras presidential election on Sunday, with only 40% of the votes counted and a 53.5% lead in preliminary results.
Castro, the wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, is rallying for the president against Nazuri Asfra, a candidate for the ruling Kuomintang, who stood at 34 percent in the initial count, the National Election Council said. Indicated.
The 62-year-old Castro is competing in the field of more than 12 candidates, and supporters have ended 12 years of conservative dominance since Zeraya was testified in a 2009 coup, leaving the left. Welcomed the victory of returning to power for the first time.
In a brief speech, Castro vowed to form a “reconciliation” government and strengthen direct democracy in a referendum. This is a tool repeatedly adopted by Mexican left-wing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
“There is no more abuse of power in this country,” said Castro, who wore a red jacket and joined her slate as vice presidential candidate for 2017 presidential runner-up popular TV host Salvador Nasrara. ..
When the irregular number of votes caused a deadly protest and incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez secured the second term, the results were much clearer than in the last election. It looked like there was.
Asfra, a wealthy businessman and second mayor of the capital, sought to stay away from Hernandez, who denied a relationship with a powerful gangster in a campaign.
Elections are the latest political flash point in Central America and a major source of US-detained immigrants fleeing chronic unemployment and gangsters. Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world, although homicide rates have been mitigated.
Central America is also a major transit point for drug trafficking.
The vote prompted diplomatic turmoil between Beijing and Washington, after Castro said it would open diplomatic relations with China and not emphasize US-backed relations with Taiwan.
There is no good option
Hernandez challenged the 2017 reelection, and the ugly aftermath emerged. Extensive reports of irregularities have triggered protests that claim the lives of more than 20 people.
Alexis Sanchez, a 22-year-old medical student, said he was reluctant to vote for Castro, relaxing on the bench immediately after voting while listening to music on headphones.
“Honestly, I didn’t have such a good option,” she said, adding that she was very skeptical of the clean vote.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “This is Honduras.”
National and international election observers monitored votes, including missions by 68 members of the European Union.
EU chief observer Zeljana Zovko told reporters around noon that most of the polling stations he visited were open late, but her team saw mostly mild, high turnout votes.
“The campaign was very difficult,” said Frieta Castellanos, a sociologist and former Dean of the Honduras National Autonomous University.
Post-election violence could occur if the race was imminent, numerous complaints were filed, and allegations of large-scale fraud were raised, Castellanos said.
In addition to the presidency, voters have also determined the composition of a parliament consisting of 128 members of the country and about 300 local government officials.
In the working-class Kennedy district of Tegucigalpa, 56-year-old accountant Jose refused to reveal his name, but said he would stick to the ruling party.
“I hope Tito Asfra can change everything,” he said using the mayor’s nickname. “See, corruption here is in all governments.”
By David Alire Garcia and Gustavo Palencia. The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
follow
[ad_2]