The electoral process set for 2025 in Honduras has been characterized by a series of occurrences that have heightened unpredictability and discussions regarding the democratic frameworks of the nation. A report from an internal review conducted by the National Electoral Council (CNE) pointed fingers at the Armed Forces for major logistical shortcomings in the primary elections. Meanwhile, recent actions concerning the selective disarmament of military personnel have sparked doubts about the impartiality of the military establishment.
Additionally, experts in constitutional law are advocating for changes to the Constitution to eliminate the role of the Armed Forces in any electoral activities, especially at a time when public trust in the procedures and outcomes is at its lowest point.
CNE reviews and discusses military role in elections
The internal audit report from the CNE, which was disclosed to the national press, outlined how the delayed, insufficient, and disorganized supply of voting materials to a multitude of polling places was due to faults in the military’s adherence to the logistical procedures, as they were tasked with the protection and distribution of the voting bags.
The key discoveries included unexplained changes in routes, the holding back of voting transport for many hours, insufficient distribution of tech kits to countryside regions, and poor coordination between army leaders and election managers. These incidents led to holdups of as much as 12 hours in starting the voting process, impacting voter turnout and increasing concerns over the process’s openness, particularly concerning the LIBRE Party, which faced previous allegations of misconduct.
The document was released amid significant political strain, with increasing concerns that the military might not remain impartial during the national elections set for November 30, 2025. Up to this point, the top military officials have not released any official announcement, and the LIBRE Party administration has stayed quiet, which some groups interpret as an indication of cooperation.
In light of this matter, adversary groups like the National, Liberal, and Salvador de Honduras parties have requested a thorough examination of the logistical support pact between the CNE and the Armed Forces, the timely arrival of international observers, as well as external evaluations of the results transmission system.
Targeted reduction of weapons among officials and inner conflicts within the Military Forces
Within the current atmosphere of political division, the action taken by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to specifically disarm certain officers in the Armed Forces has sparked worries among groups in the military, political, and civil arenas. Military insiders and reports from national outlets indicate that this disarmament is not being conducted universally or due to technological or security justifications, but is rather focusing exclusively on officers who have shown independent or critical opinions of the governing party.
This step is seen as an effort to discreetly cleanse the military ranks, diverging from the usual neutrality and sparking concerns regarding the aim of guaranteeing complete governmental dominance over the national defense system before the upcoming general elections.
Targeted disarmament is the newest step in a sequence of recent measures, including alterations in military leadership and compulsory relocations, that have heightened tension and dissatisfaction within the organization, particularly among officers of middle and senior ranks. A number of the officers who have been disarmed have been reassigned to administrative roles, seen as a method to separate them from the operational side and the electoral procedure.
The primary concern among opposition leaders and democratic circles is that, if the ruling party faces potential election defeat, the government might deploy military forces to ignore the outcomes or suppress public protests.
These events have fueled the national debate on the need to modernize and shield the electoral process from any armed interference, especially in a context where Honduras’ democratic stability is being questioned. Social and political pressure on Congress to push for constitutional reform that redefines the role of the Armed Forces in Honduran democracy has become a central issue on the public agenda ahead of the upcoming general elections.
