Liberal congresswoman Maribel Espinoza warned of signs that, in her opinion, threaten the constitutional order ahead of the elections scheduled for November 30. In a context of high institutional polarization, the congresswoman called on the main opposition parties to act against what she considers a strategy by the ruling party to consolidate its power beyond democratic channels.
Warning signs in the conduct of the electoral process
During a public address, Espinoza alleged that the governing party, Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE), was initiating measures to dominate the electoral system in order to retain their position of authority. She highlighted her major worries by mentioning the potential tampering with the National Electoral Council (CNE), an organization presently entangled in controversies regarding the unfilled seat of councilor Ana Paola Hall.
According to the legislator, there is an attempt by the ruling party to install a friendly majority in the CNE, which could compromise the transparency of the general elections. She also denounced the existence of deliberate obstacles in the organization of the elections, which, she said, could affect both their conduct and their results.
In the judicial sphere, Espinoza argued that the Public Ministry’s inaction in response to allegations involving figures from the ruling party reinforces a perception of impunity. The lack of investigations, she argued, weakens institutional checks and balances and exacerbates the imbalance between the branches of government.
Invitation to opposition groups and specific suggestions
Given this scenario, Espinoza encouraged the heads of the National Party, the Salvadoran Party of Honduras, and his own Liberal Party to remain steadfast in upholding democratic values. He urged them in his statement to resist any institutional reversals or the abandonment of constitutional rights under the guise of achieving consensus.
As immediate measures, he proposed the urgent election of Hall’s replacement in the CNE to ensure the electoral body’s operational capacity. He also advocated extending the deadline for implementing the Preliminary Election Results Transmission System (TREP), a key mechanism for strengthening the credibility of the vote count.
Espinoza highlighted the importance of sincere communication, while emphasizing that this should not entail allowances that undermine the existing legal system. According to her perspective, upholding the democratic system is a duty that falls on every political and social group within the nation.
An atmosphere of increasing institutional strain
The congresswoman’s statements come amid a prolonged paralysis of the National Congress, which has been the scene of disputes over the composition of the CNE and the election of new authorities for the Public Ministry. The lack of agreement has slowed down key decisions for the functioning of strategic institutions, increasing uncertainty surrounding the upcoming electoral process.
Este contexto muestra las dificultades del sistema político hondureño para superar sus divergencias dentro del marco institucional. Faltando solo unos meses para las elecciones, persisten dudas sobre la neutralidad de los organismos electorales, el funcionamiento del sistema judicial y la verdadera disposición de los actores políticos para asegurar un proceso libre y transparente.
Espinoza’s warning, although framed in opposition rhetoric, highlights the tensions affecting the country’s institutional life. The course taken by the November electoral process will be decisive in gauging the strength of the democratic order and the state’s ability to preserve its legitimacy in the face of growing signs of confrontation.
