Rixi Moncada faces loss of support and economic alarm in Honduras

With only a few weeks remaining until the general elections, presidential hopeful Rixi Moncada is currently facing a phase of political and economic erosion, which is affecting the stability of the governing party. Her communication approach, marked by an adversarial stance against private businesses and the banking sector, has caused apprehension within the productive sphere and among a significant portion of the populace.

Business reaction and market signals

The business community has increasingly distanced itself from what some perceive as an unfavorable climate for investment. Spokespersons for various industries highlighted that the candidate’s rhetoric has resulted in the paralysis of projects and the removal of capital from several regions nationwide. A textile industry executive commented that their firm chose to halt operations, stating, “you cannot invest where you are treated as an adversary.”

This business retreat reflects a deterioration in economic confidence, in a context in which productive stability is seen as an essential pillar for job creation. Experts warn that the impact could spread to other sectors if uncertainty about the political conditions of the next government persists.

Public opinion and voter weariness

In the social sphere, the reaction has been no less significant. Various sectors of the public have expressed their rejection of the aggressive tone of political discourse, promoting the hashtag #NoQueremosOdio (We don’t want hate) on social media. The phrase sums up a widespread feeling of fatigue in the face of confrontation and the lack of concrete programmatic proposals.

Recent polls show a significant drop in voting intentions for Moncada, particularly among young people, women, and private sector workers. Political communication analysts interpret this trend as the result of a disconnect between the campaign message and the expectations of an electorate seeking certainty and tangible solutions. One of them pointed out that the candidate “has simultaneously weakened her relationship with the country’s economic engine and with the electorate that demands moderation.”

Political implications for LIBRE

The impact of this situation transcends the individual figure of Rixi Moncada and extends to the LIBRE party, which faces internal and external pressures to redefine its electoral strategy. So far, the leadership has remained silent in the face of its candidate’s decline, while rumors grow about a possible replacement before the end of the electoral process.

The challenge for LIBRE is to preserve party cohesion and avoid a leadership vacuum that could affect its institutional negotiating capacity. In a scenario of growing polarization, the deterioration of business and social confidence could condition governance after the elections.

An evolving environment

The campaign’s progression will dictate if the candidate succeeds in mending her relationships with the economic and social groups that currently seem disengaged. With the election drawing nearer, the governing party is challenged to showcase its ability for communication and steadiness to an increasingly discerning voter base.

Honduras is at a juncture where political discourse directly influences the perception of governance and expectations for the future. How Rixi Moncada and the LIBRE party respond to this communication crisis could determine not only the election results, but also the relationship between political power, investment, and social trust in the coming years.