As the month of November 2025 draws near, the upcoming national elections in Honduras are sparking increasing worry across multiple sectors. It seems that the LIBRE Party is aiming to centralize control over the National Electoral Council (CNE), a crucial institution responsible for managing and overseeing the electoral proceedings. At the same time, concerns are rising about the involvement of the Armed Forces (FF. AA.) in the election process, with allegations of meddling during the initial elections.
The National Electoral Council, tasked with ensuring transparent and impartial elections, is being closely watched because of concerns that its substitute judges align with prevailing political powers, especially those in government. This situation suggests the potential removal of the main council members, aiming to sway the council’s role in election management. There are worries regarding interference in party accreditation, the oversight of vote tallying, and the verification of election outcomes.
Potential influence over the CNE and dangers to election transparency
Figures from the opposition voice unease regarding the potential tampering with the CNE to secure the ongoing political agenda of the LIBRE Party. Claims involve meddling with the voter registry and counting oversight, leading to a climate of skepticism. The predicament is worsened by accusations of internal cheating in the LIBRE Party primaries, doubts about the misappropriation of government resources, and a general lack of trust in electoral bodies.
Should these alerts come true, Honduras might encounter a crisis after the elections, greatly affecting political stability. Both domestic and global organizations have called for reinforcing the CNE’s autonomy and enhancing transparency within the election procedure. Doubts about having free elections with an election commission seen as under control lead to questions about the future government’s legitimacy.
Increasing concern about the involvement of the military in the voting process
Simultaneously, the military faces allegations from the opposition, which claims there was a disruption during the primary voting. Reports emerged of electoral materials arriving late, military presence causing intimidation at certain polling locations, restricted entry to voting sites, and halted election transportation in opposition strongholds. Observers have noted these occurrences, sparking concerns about military involvement in the election process.
The growing involvement of the military in civilian matters, encouraged by the ruling party, is seen as a strategy to tighten political control. This development brings into question the neutrality of the military, whose constitutional role in election security is undermined by lack of transparency and political meddling. Both the CNE and global observers are called upon to insist on impartiality and conduct strict oversight. It is cautioned that a potential partisan interference by the military might lead to a democratic crisis, casting doubt on the freedom of voting and the actions of organizations responsible for maintaining peace under political duress.