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Honduran President Declared Winner in Disputed Election Honduran President Declared Winner in Disputed Election
(35 minutes later)
MEXICO CITY — The Honduran electoral commission on Sunday declared President Juan Orlando Hernández the victor in a bitterly contested race, defying international observers who say there are serious doubts about the results.MEXICO CITY — The Honduran electoral commission on Sunday declared President Juan Orlando Hernández the victor in a bitterly contested race, defying international observers who say there are serious doubts about the results.
The electoral commission, which is controlled by allies of Mr. Hernández, said he had won by about 50,000 votes over the opposition candidate, Salvador Nasralla.The electoral commission, which is controlled by allies of Mr. Hernández, said he had won by about 50,000 votes over the opposition candidate, Salvador Nasralla.
The announcement seemed likely to escalate the political crisis that has gripped Honduras since the Nov. 27 vote.The announcement seemed likely to escalate the political crisis that has gripped Honduras since the Nov. 27 vote.
David Matamoros, the electoral commission president and a member of the president’s National Party, declared a winner despite a call from the Organization of American States to hold back. Its secretary general, Luis Almagro, said on Twitter that the O.A.S. observer mission “concludes that serious doubts about the results persist.”David Matamoros, the electoral commission president and a member of the president’s National Party, declared a winner despite a call from the Organization of American States to hold back. Its secretary general, Luis Almagro, said on Twitter that the O.A.S. observer mission “concludes that serious doubts about the results persist.”
“The lack of certainty leads me to ask for no irresponsible pronouncements” until the observer mission gives its report, Mr. Almagro wrote.“The lack of certainty leads me to ask for no irresponsible pronouncements” until the observer mission gives its report, Mr. Almagro wrote.
The electoral commission’s declaration came as Mr. Nasralla was on his way to Washington to meet with the Organization of American States and the State Department.
In a video posted on his Facebook page from the airport in Miami, Mr. Nasralla said, “The fight continues and will continue.” He said the result announced by the commission “has no validity simply because the Organization of American States, of which Honduras is a member, does not endorse the results.”
In a sign that Mr. Hernández was prepared to challenge O.A.S. directly, the president’s top adviser, Ebal Diaz, accused Mr. Almagro of violating the observation mission’s protocols and of “generating more violence.”
“You have been irresponsible, allowing a member of your team to scheme with” Mr. Nasralla “to try and steal the election,” wrote Mr. Diaz, the executive secretary of the president’s council of ministers.
On Friday, a national strike led to clashes between protesters and the military police at roadblocks around the country. At least 22 people have been killed since the disputed vote, according to the Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras, a human rights group.On Friday, a national strike led to clashes between protesters and the military police at roadblocks around the country. At least 22 people have been killed since the disputed vote, according to the Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras, a human rights group.
On election night, preliminary results suggested that Mr. Nasralla had a strong lead — but the count was then stopped for more than a day. When the counting resumed, Mr. Hernández was reported to have begun closing the gap as new results were registered. Eventually, the electoral commission’s tally gave him a small lead. Preliminary results on election night suggested that Mr. Nasralla had a strong lead — but the count was then stopped for more than a day. When the counting resumed, Mr. Hernández was reported to have begun closing the gap as new results were registered. Eventually, the electoral commission’s tally gave him a small lead.
Election observers from the O.A.S. said on Dec. 6 that the “irregularities, mistakes and systemic problems plaguing this election make it difficult” to be “certain about the outcome.”Election observers from the O.A.S. said on Dec. 6 that the “irregularities, mistakes and systemic problems plaguing this election make it difficult” to be “certain about the outcome.”
The organization backed a call for a partial recount, and the electoral commission went ahead with the tally. The alliance of leftist parties backing Mr. Nasralla, as well as a third party, the Liberal Party, handed over their copies of the tally sheets from polling places to the O.A.S. and asked for a full recount. The organization backed a call for a partial recount, and the electoral commission went ahead with the tally. The alliance of leftist parties backing Mr. Nasralla, as well as a third party, the Liberal Party, handed over their copies of the tally sheets from polling places to the O.A.S. and asked for the results to be nullified.
On Sunday, Mr. Matamoros, the electoral commission president, said in a brief televised statement that the agency had complied with all the O.A.S. recommendations.On Sunday, Mr. Matamoros, the electoral commission president, said in a brief televised statement that the agency had complied with all the O.A.S. recommendations.
Mr. Nasralla’s alliance has called for protests on Monday. The Liberal party has scheduled protests for Tuesday.Mr. Nasralla’s alliance has called for protests on Monday. The Liberal party has scheduled protests for Tuesday.