An electoral process marked by severe institutional crises contrasted with a well-organised and peaceful election day

PRESS RELEASE

An electoral process marked by severe institutional crises contrasted with a well-organised and peaceful election day

Tegucigalpa, 2 December 2025 – The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Honduras 2025 presented today, at a press conference, a preliminary assessment on the observation of the 30 November general elections. 

This statement is a preliminary analysis of the pre-election period and voting day, observed in all the departments of the country by 138 observers from 26 EU Member States plus Norway and Canada, who visited 414 polling stations to observe voting and 45 for counting.

During the presentation of the preliminary assessment, the Chief Observer, Mr. Francisco Assis, said: “The Honduran people voted peacefully without major incidents on election day, and procedures were generally well followed during voting”. The Chief Observer underlined as well that: “there are, however, significant challenges that need to be addressed to improve future electoral processes that will be the object of our recommendations. We will remain in Honduras following the tabulation and the completion of the electoral process. We are confident that all political and institutional actors will act responsibly and with utmost transparency in the upcoming days”.

Mr. Hélder Sousa Silva, Head of the European Parliament Delegation which observed the polls as part of the EU EOM, declared: During last Sunday’s historic election day, the people of Honduras gave a clear demonstration of their profound civic and democratic spirit by turning out in high numbers to vote”. He added: “This victory for democracy and hope for a better future for the country is a clear signal to political leaders. It is time to work together for institutional stability and the prosperity of citizens. On this path, you can be sure that we Europeans will be at your side, as we have been throughout these elections”.

The main conclusions of the EU EOM at this stage of the process are: 

• Despite a tense and highly polarised pre-election environment, election day took place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere. The conduct of voting was assessed by EU observers as good or very good in 97 per cent of the polling stations observed. Polling procedures were largely adhered to, and in general polling staff performed well. The secrecy of the vote was generally respected. The presence of national observers contributed to the transparency of the process. 

• Political disputes permeated the functioning of both the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the Electoral Justice Tribunal (TJE) reflecting their vulnerability to paralysis. The CNE did not elaborate a coherent institutional public communication throughout the process, which affected public trust in the institution. However, in compliance with the law, the three councillors jointly announced the preliminary results on the night of election day.

• Fundamental freedoms were respected during the election campaign, despite a state of emergency being in place in most municipalities. Political parties were able to campaign freely. However, candidates had to negotiate their access in some urban areas controlled by criminal gangs. Campaign messaging was divisive and polarising.

• Intimidation, smear campaigns and lawsuits have been used to strategically undermine media freedom. At the same time, weak protection mechanisms and aggression against the media fostered self-censorship. The distinction between public information and campaign messaging in favour of the ruling party candidate was blurred by government communication and the selective allocation of state advertising. While the public broadcasters did not provide equitable or impartial coverage of the campaign, some private media provided a more balanced coverage. 

• Monitoring of social media revealed a deeply polarised information space, marked by the widespread circulation of conspiracy theories about electoral fraud, disinformation, and defamatory speeches and gender-based attacks, frequently amplified by AI-generated content and inauthentic behaviour. This affected confidence in the electoral process and fuelled fear of post-election instability.

• Internal disputes between the three TJE magistrates and consecutive intentional absences resulted in the tribunal being effectively paralysed. The instrumentalisation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office by one magistrate against the other two, followed by a case against them at the Supreme Court amid rumours of their potential detention, curtailed the institution’s capacity to prepare for post-election period.

Following the invitation of Honduran authorities, the EU EOM has been present in Honduras since 11 October. The Mission will stay in the country to observe the remainder of the electoral process and within few weeks will present a public final report containing recommendations on possible reforms for future electoral processes. 

The EU EOM is independent in its findings and strictly adheres to its principle of non-interference. The EU Mission operates in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, adopted in 2005 at the United Nations.

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For further information, please contact:

Alessandro Gori, EU EOM Press Officer,

Mobile: +504 8955-7454 - Email: alessandro.gori@moeue-honduras2025.eu

The EU EOM Preliminary Statement,

- in Spanish:

- in English:

This press release,

- in Spanish:

- in English: