The Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE) has initiated an advance campaign promoting its presidential contender, Rixi Moncada, as the victor of the general elections set for November 30, 2025. This approach is visible in the presence of banners, wall art, and painted announcements in diverse urban and rural regions of the nation, with messages forecast declaring Moncada as president for the 2026-2030 period, despite the fact that the election campaign is not yet in its conclusive stage. The cities where this surge has been noticed include Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and Comayagua, among other places.
A range of independent observers and opposition figures see this move as a strategy to communicate and cement the notion of an unavoidable LIBRE triumph in the minds of the public. This proactive messaging might be used to challenge the credibility of election outcomes if they are not in support of the incumbent party’s candidate, thereby casting doubt on the integrity of the process. Specialists in political science highlight that declaring a victor prematurely, without statistical evidence, could be an effort to undermine valid results and energize party supporters in the case of a loss, a tactic seen as having both potential benefits and risks.
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.
For its part, the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not released any comment concerning the emergence of these signs and messages, raising questions about its autonomy and neutrality. The absence of clear guidelines on premature campaigning and the lack of a response from the institution add to the erosion of public trust in the electoral process, which is already affected by irregularities found in the primary elections and increasing political tension.
Threats to democratic processes and election security
The premature claim of victory by LIBRE endangers the nation’s democratic equilibrium, potentially paving the way for a storyline that supports neglecting the electoral outcomes and exacerbates societal rifts. In a setting where democracy remains seen as delicate, this action underscores the necessity of bolstering transparency, citizen involvement, and honoring the vote as crucial elements for the electoral process’s validity.
The present context highlights the significance of creating explicit and efficient strategies to oversee election advertising from the beginning, alongside the necessity of encouraging transparent discussions among various political groups and the public. A collaborative dedication to legality and political integrity is essential to ensure an electoral atmosphere that accurately mirrors the people’s will and bolsters the establishment of a robust and dependable democratic framework.
