Promises of a recount in Honduras stalled over the weekend, but today officials issued a “partial” result which showed US-backed President Juan Orlando Hernandez continuing to enjoy a narrow lead over his opponent, outspoken TV host Salvador Nasralla.
Nasralla had been polling overwhelmingly ahead just before the vote, to the point it was believed to be an insurmountable lead. The OAS is warning of systematic problems with the vote, and is casting doubts on the results.
Not that these are “results.” Honduran officials say the partial recount preliminary data doesn’t mean they’re declaring a winner. With Hernandez deploying US-trained troops in force against pro-Nasralla protesters, however, it seems he’s looking to secure control.
The site of an ugly military coup in 2009, the stakes were high for this election in the future of Honduras’ democracy. This hasn’t looked promising so far, with protests almost immediately met with violent crackdowns, and the US-backed candidate expected to retain power against all odds.
They did one coup to get power, and they’ll do another to keep power.
They excused the first one to prevent a change in the Constitution that they then immediately made themselves and now seek to use. The first coup was as transparent as this one.
We never had a problem with Franco, we never did anything against Suharto, Pinochet was presented as a model of free market reform.
Democracy and even constitutional government are merely slogans. They are have no meaning and have no restraint for those in power.
Coming to a nation near you.
Obama’s efforts to bring Chicago-style democracy to Honduras seem to be holding firm even under Trump