A sharp turn in Honduras: why the left lost and what the narrow right-wing lead means
In a dramatic shift, the 2025 presidential elections in Honduras appear to be delivering a blow to the left. Early counts showed the conservative Nasry Asfura ahead, with around 40–41 % of the vote, narrowly edging out Salvador Nasralla from the Liberal Party, who hovered near 39–40 %.
Meanwhile, the left-wing Rixi Moncada, endorsed by the current president Xiomara Castro and her party Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE), lagged far behind, with only about 19–20 % support.
Hondurans were voting not only for a new president, but also to renew Congress and more than 290 municipal governments. The choice seemed to pivot around two visions: continuity under a leftist approach, prioritising social justice and state-led reforms, or a shift toward conservative promises of economic growth, security and reestablishing ties with foreign investors.
The left’s setback appears rooted in deep disenchantment with the current government’s mixed record. While President Castro’s administration made modest progress on reducing violence and pursuing some social policies, many Hondurans remain frustrated by persistent poverty, weak public services, and unmet promises of meaningful reform. The rhetoric around crime, economic decline and corruption dominated, reflecting widespread demand for tangible change rather than ideological continuity.
On the right, Asfura capitalised on this frustration and on international backing. As a former mayor of the capital and a pro-business candidate, he pledged infrastructure development, foreign investment and job creation. His campaign gained additional traction after he was publicly supported by Donald Trump, a factor that stirred international attention and could reshape Honduras’ foreign alliances.
But the narrow margin and the presence of just-under-20 % for Moncada leave Honduras at a political crossroads. With Congress and local governments also up for grabs, the final outcome could reshape power balances for years. The results reflect not just a defeat for the left but a broader rejection of the political status quo and unmet promises. For a country battered by economic inequality, violence and political disillusionment, the vote seems to reflect a desire for pragmatic solutions over ideological loyalties.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
