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Opposition groups are leading the way in Honduras | Election Issues

Preliminary results from the Honduras presidential election showed opposition candidate Xiomara Castro with a clear lead over opposition party leader Nasry Ashura, after both sides won the by-elections on Sunday.

With more than 16 percent of the votes cast, Castro had 53.4 percent support, while Ashura had 34 percent, the National Electoral Council said.

If the opposition wins, then she will be Honduras’ first female president and return to power for the first time since her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, was ousted in 2009.

The electoral council had previously said that more than 2.7 million voters had already cast their ballots, which was described as “a major threat” to which the majority of voters should be counted.

The first coming is much higher than in 2017, said council president Kelvin Aguirre. But about 8 percent of the 5,755 polling stations had a problem with voter turnout and election officials, which are expected to delay the results.

The attendance is rising expectations for change after twelve years of National Party rule.

Long queues were formed at many polling stations in Honduras, raising hopes of a change in government [Orlando Sierra/AFP]

Leftwing Castro wants to unite opponents of outgoing President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who has denied allegations that he is a powerful terrorist, even though he has openly launched a crackdown on terrorists in the United States. is said to sell drugs.

After teaming up with the 2017, popular TV runner, a number of options have strengthened his leadership role.

“We cannot stay at home. This is our time. Now is the time to end the tyranny, “Castro said shortly after voting in Catacamas.

Long queues can be seen at most polling stations across the country, where about 5.2 million Honduras are eligible to vote.

The election is the most recent political event in Central America, a major source of migration to US and refugees fleeing permanent unemployment and gang violence. Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world, despite a recent spate of homicides.

Central America is also a major drug center, and there is growing concern over growing governments.

Votes were also encouraged diplomatic conflict between Beijing and Washington after Castro said it would open diplomatic relations with China, emphasizing relations with Taiwan, an autonomous island that China claims as its own.

‘This is Honduras’

Castro’s main enemy among the 13 candidates for the presidency in the election is the Ashura of the National Party, a wealthy businessman and the mayor of Tegucigalpa, a two-year-old mayor, who tried to isolate himself from an unpopular candidate. He has tried to prove that his enemy is really cruel.

After casting the ballot, the measured Ashura said he respected the voters’ decision.

“Whatever the people of Honduras want in the end, I respect that,” he said.

Some voters interviewed by Reuters news agency expressed dissatisfaction with their choice, but many others had their preferences.

“I oppose all corruption, poverty and drug trafficking,” said Jose Gonzalez, 27, a mechanic who said he would vote for Castro.

Hernandez’s 2017 election decision, and its negative consequences, is even greater. Numerous reports of wrongdoing sparked protests that killed more than a dozen people, but denied the allegations and called for a vote.

Alexa Sanchez, a 22-year-old medical student, sat on a bench as soon as she voted and listened to the music in her ears and said she voted for Castro reluctantly.

“To be honest, it ‘s not like there were such good choices,” he said, adding that he was very skeptical that the vote would be white.

“I do not think so,” he said. “This is Honduras.”

If opposition leader Xiomara Castro wins, she will be Honduras’ first female president and return to power for the first time since her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, was ousted in 2009. [Jose Cabezas/Reuters]
Ruling party spokesman Nasry Asfura, a wealthy businessman and mayor of the capital, has tried to isolate himself from the unpopular Juan Orlando Hernandez. [Fredy Rodriguez/Reuters]

Many national and international election observers voted for Sunday’s vote, including 68 members of the European Union.

Zeljana Zovko, the EU’s chief of staff, told reporters during the day that her party often saw peaceful votes with a large number of people, although many of the polling stations she visited were opened late.

“The task has been extremely difficult,” said Julieta Castellanos, a sociologist and former director of the National Autonomous University in Honduras, saying Castro “has made great hopes”.

Castellanos said post-election violence is likely to occur if the polls are too close, if too many complaints are lodged, or if the candidates are too quick to win.

Along with the president, voters are also voting for 128 members of Congress, including about 300 government officials.

In the Kennedy area of ​​Tegucigalpa, a 56-year-old accountant, Jose, who declined to be named, said he would continue with the ruling party.

“I hope Tito Ashura can change anything,” he said, using the mayor’s name.

“Look, here’s the corruption in all governments.”




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