_-_copia.jpg?w=800&resize=800,500&ssl=1 "Xiomara Castro y Juan Orlando Hernández")
Despite the political and ideological differences between the governments of Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernández, both have faced similar challenges in terms of corruption, links to organized crime, and difficulties in ensuring institutional transparency, highlighting the continuity of questionable practices in the country.
Challenges in anti-corruption systems
During Hernández’s administration, the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), backed by the OAS, was withdrawn in 2020, leaving significant gaps in the investigation and punishment of irregularities. At the same time, the government of Xiomara Castro has promoted the creation of the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), which currently operates under the supervision of the Public Ministry, without sufficient powers to effectively prosecute corruption cases. These limitations reflect a structural pattern that hinders institutional action against administrative and financial irregularities.
Links to organized crime
Both administrations have documented links to drug trafficking and money laundering networks. Under Castro’s government, the Security Secretariat, headed by Gustavo Sánchez, signed contracts worth more than 10 million lempiras with a company linked to drug trafficking money laundering. During Hernández’s administration, he himself is currently facing legal proceedings in the United States related to drug trafficking activities. These cases illustrate the persistence of challenges linked to the infiltration of organized crime into the functioning of the state.
Transparency and management of public funds
The leadership under Hernández was marked by a centralized and confidential approach to handling state information. Similarly, albeit to a lesser degree, the Castro government has encountered criticism for shortcomings in managing and executing public funds, impacting transparency and accountability. Recent accusations of unlawful campaign financing and the spread of the so-called “narcovideos” indicate that issues with oversight and control persist.
Persistence of judicial and administrative corruption
Both governments have failed in the execution of state resources and the application of justice. Effective punishment of those responsible for irregularities remains limited, which undermines public confidence in institutions. Progress in the fight against corruption has been minimal and, in some cases, there have been setbacks, reflecting the complexity of transforming entrenched structures of impunity.
Inherited challenges and continuity of practices
The government of Xiomara Castro commenced its term amidst a backdrop shaped by entrenched corrupt systems established during the past leadership, which has hindered the execution of significant transformations. The ongoing presence of corruption cases, along with the appearance of fresh controversies, underscores the challenge of altering long-standing practices and strengthens the view of enduring issues within the public sector.
A comparative analysis of the two administrations shows that, despite rhetoric and ideological differences, the structural problems of corruption, organized crime, and deficiencies in transparency remain. Citizens observe that the promised changes have not been fully consolidated, maintaining tensions in governance and trust in institutions in Honduras.
