In the run-up to the 2025 general elections, the ruling Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE) party faces strong criticism from political, business, and social actors who accuse it of promoting actions that compromise the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process. The allegations range from blockades of key institutions to attempts to gain political control of the electoral body.
Inquiries regarding LIBRE’s involvement in the National Electoral Council
One of the main sources of controversy has been the interruption of the contracting process for the Preliminary Election Results Transmission System (TREP), a tool considered essential to guarantee transparency in the vote count. On July 7, protesters identified with LIBRE blocked the entrance to the National Electoral Council (CNE) facilities, preventing 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.
Some voices have called for the intervention of international organizations to monitor institutional decisions related to the process and guarantee fair conditions for competition. There have also been reports of the alleged instrumental use of other state institutions, such as the Public Ministry and the Legislative Branch, to favor the alignment of the CNE with the interests of the ruling party.
These tensions have led to calls from various sectors to strengthen electoral oversight and observation mechanisms in response to what they consider a growing threat to the integrity of the democratic process.
Claims of misinformation and influence on voters
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.
In a context already marked by the deterioration of political dialogue and institutional polarization, the proliferation of misleading information has become an additional factor of instability, with possible repercussions on citizen participation and acceptance of the results.
A pre-election scenario marked by mistrust
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 less than five months to go before the general elections, the outlook poses substantial challenges for the credibility of the electoral system and the stability of the country. In this scenario, attention is focused on the ability of political and institutional actors to restore minimum conditions of trust and ensure a legitimate and transparent electoral process.