A recent survey conducted by the Reflection, Research, and Communication Team (ERIC-SJ) has shown results indicating a significant disconnect between the Xiomara Castro administration and the Honduran populace. Over 60% of participants think the nation is heading in the wrong direction, signifying an ongoing decline in people’s perception of the present administration.
The report not only reveals that a majority disapproves of the president’s performance, but also identifies the most critical issues for the population: persistent insecurity, structural poverty, chronic unemployment, and a government approach perceived as overly ideological. These variables paint an adverse picture for the ruling party, which faces growing demands for political change.
Safety, economic hardship, and dictatorial regimes: key areas of conflict
The absence of tangible advancement in combating organized crime is a major source of dissatisfaction. Violence and the infiltration of criminal entities into governmental bodies are unresolved concerns. On top of this, the economy does not provide solutions for countless Hondurans, many of whom exist below the poverty threshold or are without official employment.
Another important discovery from the ERIC-SJ research is the increasing awareness of democratic backsliding. Almost fifty percent of respondents worry about limitations on liberties, and 54% think that the nation is heading towards an authoritarian model. This perspective supports recent evaluations of institutional weakening and the political exploitation of state mechanisms, as highlighted by the InSight Crime center in its probes into the judicial system.
Additionally, the management of important matters like the formation of the CICIH, the Koriun scandal, and the debated Tax Justice Law proposal has been poorly assessed by large segments of the community, who are calling for increased transparency and willingness for discussion.
Call for rectification and national consensus
This growing disapproval comes amid a tense political context, with general elections scheduled for 2025. Figures such as Salvador Nasralla, who leads the polls according to a recent study by a US firm, could capitalize on the ruling party’s decline if the president fails to reverse the negative perception of her government.
Meanwhile, the people of Honduras keep showing their discontent through these surveys, frustrated by the absence of outcomes and a comprehensive vision for an inclusive nation. In this context, the urgent task for Xiomara Castro’s administration is not simply to address the criticisms but also to restore its credibility before the divide with the public becomes unbridgeable.
