The electoral authorities in Honduras announced on Wednesday the victory of right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, in the presidential elections. The announcement of results was delayed for weeks amidst allegations of fraud. The 67-year-old businessman, son of Palestinian immigrants, defeated former television presenter Salvador Nasralla, who is also a right-winger. Nasralla demanded a full recount of votes due to claims of irregularities.Ana Paula Ouel, head of the National Electoral Council, announced that the council «declares Nasry Juan Asfour Zeblah the winner of a four-year presidential term». Asfour is due to take office on January 27. According to official results, Asfour received 40.1% of the votes, compared to 39.53% for Nasralla and 19.19% for Xiomara Castro's candidate, leftist outgoing president Richy Moncada.Immediately after Asfour's victory in the presidential elections was announced, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the «clear victory» in a statement, calling on all parties to «respect the confirmed results so that Honduran authorities can ensure a rapid and peaceful transition of power». Rubio also added that he looks forward to working with Asfour's incoming administration «to enhance our bilateral and regional security cooperation and end illegal migration».The real estate tycoon won the presidency in his second attempt with Trump's support. The latter had threatened the day before the elections, held in a single round on November 30, to cut aid to one of the poorest countries in Latin America if his preferred candidate was not elected.The repeated suspensions of the initial vote count, which the National Electoral Council attributed to technical problems with the private company responsible for transmitting and publishing the results, raised suspicions of election fraud. Nasralla from the Liberal Party, as well as Moncada, expressed this view.A final recount of votes was later conducted in several polling stations that were accused of irregularities. Nevertheless, observer missions from the Organization of American States and the European Union noted that no serious irregularities were observed during the presidential elections in Honduras.
