In Santa Bárbara, the candidate of the Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), Rixi Moncada, addressed a massive rally at the official launch of her campaign for the Presidency. Photo: Fb Rixi Moncada President
Tegucigalpa, January 20 (RHC)-- Honduras inaugurated its electoral campaign on Sunday, which marks the first step towards the general elections scheduled for November 30, 2025, with Defense Minister Rixi Moncada as the favorite among the ruling party candidates.
The initial phase of the electoral process is focused on the primary elections set for March 9, in which party members will select their candidates from among several internal movements for more than 3,000 public offices. According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), candidates have a period of 50 days to secure their party's nomination.
Among the 14 legally registered parties in the country, only the three main political forces will hold primaries: the traditional National and Liberal parties, along with the ruling leftist Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre).
Libre, which emerged from the popular resistance against the June 28, 2009 coup that overthrew former President Manuel Zelaya, now sees its defense minister, Rixi Moncada, as one of the main contenders.
"I can only make a proposal based on a revolutionary, structural and profound change," Moncada declared through her account on the X platform, after launching her campaign before tens of thousands of people in the northern department of Santa Bárbara. During a meeting of young people in that town, she emphasized her commitment by stating: "Today I assume my commitment to lead the people towards the next popular victory."
The political panorama has focused attention on the race for the presidential candidacy of the National Party, where Ana García Carías, wife of former president Juan Orlando Hernández - currently imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking charges - is among the four candidates.
In the Liberal Party there are also four candidates, including Salvador Nasralla, a former ally of Libre in the 2021 elections, and deputy Maribel Espinoza, who recently denounced facing "ferocious and permanent" attacks from her rivals.
Within Libre, Moncada is competing against Congress Vice President Rasel Tomé, although party sources indicate that she has a substantial lead, backed by both President Xiomara Castro and party leader Manuel Zelaya.
Foreign Minister Enrique Reina has publicly backed her candidacy, while party activist Carlos Girón said at the X: "She is our only option to continue with the refoundation, we place our trust in her and we will work as a popular resistance to celebrate together in November."
Tens of thousands of people participated in the act to start Rixi Moncada's campaign in the town of Santa Bárbara.
The CNE reports 5.8 million registered voters who will participate in the selection of their party's candidates for president, vice presidents, deputies, mayors, vice mayors and councilors. The opening day of the campaign went off without any reported incidents, setting the stage for what promises to be a defining year in Honduran politics.
The current administration, led by President Xiomara Castro since January 27, 2022, represents Libre's first term, which she has characterized as a period of democratic socialism aimed at rebuilding the nation after the rule of the National Party.
