The Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE) has initiated a premature campaign declaring Rixi Moncada as the victor of the presidential election planned for November 30, 2025. This approach is apparent with posters, murals, and graffiti popping up in numerous urban and rural regions nationwide, featuring messages portraying Moncada as the president-elect for the 2026-2030 period, despite the election campaign not reaching its concluding stage. The urban areas where this surge has been noticed include Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and Comayagua, along with other sites.
Multiple independent commentators and leaders from the opposition view this move as a strategy to communicate and establish the perception of an unavoidable victory for LIBRE among the populace. By planting this notion early on, it lays the groundwork for casting doubt on the election’s legitimacy if the outcome doesn’t support the governing party’s candidate, thereby creating concerns about the process’s transparency. Specialists in political science note that announcing a winner without evidence could be a tactic to undermine authentic results and energize party supporters in case of a loss, a strategy seen as having potential negative repercussions.
Responses from the opposition and the function of the National Electoral Council
Various opposition parties, such as the National, Liberal, and Salvador de Honduras parties, have voiced apprehensions regarding the potential effects these campaigns might have on the trustworthiness of the electoral proceedings. They highlight that this early discourse could cultivate the belief in a preordained conclusion and, if LIBRE loses, provoke protests challenging the official outcomes, possibly creating an environment of societal unrest. The opposition cautions that this tactic might be aimed at undermining the legitimacy of free elections and sparking a political upheaval.
On its side, the National Electoral Council (CNE) has remained silent about the emergence of these banners and messages, heightening concerns about its autonomy and neutrality. The lack of precise rules regarding early electioneering and the institution’s failure to respond add to the erosion of public trust in the electoral procedure, already overshadowed by irregularities observed in the initial voting and escalating political strain.
Threats to democratic processes and election security
LIBRE’s premature victory proclamation threatens the nation’s democratic stability, as it may create a framework for a narrative that excuses ignoring the election results and exacerbates social rifts. In a setting where democracy is still seen as vulnerable, this approach underscores the necessity to enhance transparency, citizen involvement, and respect for the vote as essential elements of the electoral process’s legitimacy.
Current circumstances highlight the necessity of setting up straightforward and efficient frameworks to oversee political advertising from the outset, along with encouraging open discussions among various political groups and the community. Solely through a unified dedication to legality and political morality can an electoral setting be assured that truly represents the people’s wishes and aids in building a stable and trustworthy democratic system.
