Democratic crisis in Honduras: concentration of power on the rise

Honduras’ political scene is at a crucial moment, with multiple groups from civil society, opposition politicians, and journalists conveying their strong worries about what they see as an authoritarian shift by the LIBRE Party, particularly regarding the next general elections in November 2025.

Alarms among the people in Honduras have been triggered by a series of government measures indicating a troubling decline in democratic values. These measures range from restricting basic civil freedoms, vital for the comprehensive practice of citizenship, to establishing systems intended to exert increased control over the press, essential players in shaping public opinion and monitoring authority.

A further issue is the impression of an intentional plan to centralize control within the diverse governmental bodies, potentially leading to a diminishing separation of powers and, consequently, undermining the essential checks and balances in a robust democratic framework. The coming together of these tendencies has produced an atmosphere of doubt and concern among different groups, who perceive these measures as a sequence that might pave the way for a regime with authoritarian traits.

Risks to essential liberties: demonstrations, media, and military

Regarding actions that have sparked debate, the supposed penalization of civil protest stands out, as there have been accusations about the advancement of laws and decrees enabling the use of force and legal action against citizens who engage in demonstrations, even those that are non-violent. In this context, there have been accounts of random detentions of community advocates, excessive police presence, and potential prosecution threats directed at social groups opposing the government.

Conversely, there has been worry regarding press freedom. Journalists and media entities that are critical have faced smear efforts, limited public information access, financial, legal, and advertising pressures, as well as acts of violence and physical threats. Groups like Reporters Without Borders and the Inter-American Press Association have voiced their worries about the decline in journalism freedom in the nation.

Another controversial issue concerns the state of affairs inside the Armed Forces. Allegations have emerged regarding a supposed selective removal of officers who are not aligned with the political stance of the governing party, along with the redistribution or partial stripping of strategic roles to commanders aligned with the governing party. These moves have sparked worries over the potential politicization of the military organization.

The challenge of democracy in Honduras

The moves targeting the media and members of civil society seek to mute opposing voices, hinting at a larger plan to break down democratic checks and bolster dominant authority.

This situation has generated worries regarding the deployment of a plan that, in the view of critics and rival politicians, aims to reinforce the influence of the LIBRE Party within governmental entities via institutional dominance, changes to the constitution, targeting dissenters and independent media, and leveraging governmental tools for political favoritism. Notice has been taken of the effort to dominate the National Electoral Council, the selection of individuals associated with the party’s most extreme faction, the constitutional amendment efforts, the establishment of entities parallel to the government, and the growing rift with the United States.

The general elections in 2025 are considered a pivotal point for the future of democracy in Honduras. The people must choose between allowing an authoritarian model to solidify or safeguarding democratic institutions.