Xiomara Castro to become first female Honduran president after rival concedes
- Nasry Asfura of the National Party accepted defeat and personally congratulated Castro for winning Sunday’s vote
- Although Asfura’s recognition of the result eased fears of violent protests, Castro will face major challenges including rising unemployment
Honduras ruling party conceded defeat on Tuesday in presidential elections held two days earlier, giving victory to leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro and easing fears of another contested vote and violent protests.
Tegucigalpa Mayor Nasry Asfura of the National Party said in a statement that he had personally congratulated Castro, despite only about half the voting tallies being counted from Sunday’s election.
Castro had 53 per cent of the votes and Asfura 34 per cent, with 52 per cent of the tallies counted, according to the National Electoral Council. The council has 30 days from the election to declare a winner.
Asfura said he had met with Castro and her family.
“Now I want to say it publicly,” the conservative candidate said. “That I congratulate her for her victory and as president-elect, I hope that God illuminates and guides her so that her administration does the best for the benefit of all of us Hondurans, to achieve development and the desires for democracy.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Castro minutes later.
“The United States congratulates the people of Honduras on their election and Xiomara Castro on her historic victory as Honduras’ first female president,” Blinken said in a statement.
“We look forward to working with the next government of Honduras. We congratulate Hondurans for the high voter turnout, peaceful participation, and active civil society engagement that marked this election, signalling an enduring commitment to the democratic process.”