In brief
Honduras is in the midst of a general election marked by interference claims from Donald Trump, who has threatened to cut financial aid to the country based on the election's outcome. The race predominantly features Rixi Moncada, Salvador Nasralla, and Nasry 'Tito' Asfura. The lead is currently disputed, with a significant portion of the electorate still undecided. Concerns over election fraud and potential unrest are heightening tensions as voting unfolds.
Hondurans are casting their ballots in a general election that is being dominated by threats from US President Donald Trump.
There are five presidential candidates on the bill, but the poll is essentially being seen as a three-way race between former defence minister Rixi Moncada of the leftist Libre party, TV host Salvador Nasralla from the centrist Liberals, and businessman Nasry 'Tito' Asfura, of the right-wing National Party.
Trump has thrown his support behind Asfura and threatened to cut financial aid to the Central American nation if he does not win.
The most recent opinion poll puts Nasralla in the lead, but with 34% of voter saying they are still undecided, it could be anyone's race.
Outgoing president Xiomara Castro, who was the country's first female president when she took office in 2021 for the Libre party, is not allowed to run for a second term under Honduran law.
She has backed Moncada to take her place. The 60-year-old lawyer has pledged to protect natural wealth from 21st-century filibusters who want to privatise everything if she wins. Moncada has also expressed her commitment to combating corruption in all its forms.
On Saturday, Moncada accused Trump of meddling in the election, calling his endorsement of her right-wing opponent totally interventionist.
Trump had said that the US would be very supportive if Tito Asfura wins the presidency.
Trump's warnings that the United States would not waste support on a wrong leader have echoed through the election season, which has raised tensions significantly.
Despite outgoing leadership's support for progressive policies, issues of corruption and the influence of foreign powers remain pivotal in this election cycle.
Polls for the single-round elections opened at 07:00 CST (13:00 GMT) and will close after 10 hours of voting. Pre-emptive accusations of election fraud, made both by the ruling party and opposition, have sown mistrust in the vote and sparked fears of post-election unrest.
It prompted the president of the National Electoral Council, Ana Paola Hall, to warn all parties not to fan the flames of confrontation or violence.
