Primary elections in Honduras 2025: alert for possible fraud in LIBRE party

After the primary elections held on March 9, 2025, attorney Rixi Moncada emerged as the presidential nominee for the LIBRE Party. Nonetheless, her win has sparked controversy following accusations of vote-counting discrepancies, creating an atmosphere of doubt within the Honduran political scene. Critics from both opposing parties and within her own ranks have voiced skepticism regarding the legitimacy of the results, suggesting that the vote tallies in crucial districts were altered to show strong backing for Moncada that might not accurately represent the party’s or the electorate’s true sentiment.

The critique highlights a supposed strategy by the media and organization to falsely shape a perception of widespread backing for the governing party’s candidate. Within this scenario, the M-28 faction, aligned with the party’s top ranks, has been identified as the primary instigator behind the purported deceptive activities intended to benefit Moncada’s campaign. The claims outline numerous discrepancies, such as tampering with vote tallies at specific polling locations, inflating the outcomes for selective pre-candidates, omitting representatives of internal dissenting groups during the tabulation, and delayed or partial distribution of election materials.

Some activists have even suggested that the process was orchestrated to impose a predetermined candidate chosen by the party leadership, which they consider a transgression of the democratic principles of internal participation.

Concerns regarding credibility and internal division in LIBRE

The response from Moncada and his representatives has been to strongly deny these allegations, labeling them as slander attempts orchestrated by the usual opposition. The LIBRE Party has highlighted the clarity of the internal procedures and the neutrality of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Nevertheless, these accusations have led to a pronounced split within the political party, putting Moncada’s candidacy’s validity in doubt and revealing a major internal turmoil.

The dissatisfaction is voiced by local leaders, regional coordinators, and individuals from various internal groups. These claims not only question Rixi Moncada’s triumph but also reveal a significant split within LIBRE, an organization that has championed democratic engagement and openness as core principles of its identity. Failing to address these claims with clarity and assurance might result in a declining base of LIBRE supporters, higher abstention rates among its followers, and diminished trust ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 2025.

Political consequences and the caution from opponents

In this context, political adversaries have voiced worries that the primary elections might have been a «practice run for fraud» before the general elections in November 2025. Alerts have been given about LIBRE’s extended plan to solidify its authority past 2026, carrying out measures like dominating the legislative and judicial sectors, planning a constitutional change via a popular vote, and employing discrediting campaigns along with state assets to undermine independent media and political adversaries.

Several leaders from opposing parties caution that LIBRE’s goal might be to maintain prolonged governance of the nation, employing state resources, government messaging, and institutional authority to suppress opposition.

Organizations from civil society, global observers, and independent news outlets have advocated for increased oversight, technical assessments, and international support for the November elections. The primary question is whether Rixi Moncada will embody a genuine majority of the people or if she will be a product of a political and election-driven mechanism aimed at sustaining LIBRE’s hold on power.