Statement from Senator Peter Welch
Printed in the Congressional Record
October 30, 2025
Mr. President, on September 3, 2025, I spoke about the upcoming November 30th general elections in Honduras for President, Members of Congress, and Members of the Central American Parliament. Significant fraud has been a problem in many of Honduras’ past elections, most notably prior to, and during, the 2013 and 2017 elections of former President Juan Orlando Hernando who today sits in a U.S. prison. So, it is important that this election, like the election of Hernandez’ successor in 2021, is widely accepted as free, fair, and transparent and that the results are honored in and outside of Honduras.
At that time, I expressed concern about a report that on July 16th Counselor Ana Paola Hall had resigned from the National Electoral Council due to political pressure and threats against her and her family. I also expressed concern that the government of President Castro had reportedly failed to implement the system for transmitting election results, which is designed to ensure transparent and timely reporting.
Since then, I have been informed that Ms. Paola did not resign, and that Honduras’s electoral authority – the National Electoral Council, or CNE – is now implementing an updated system for transmitting election results. This is positive news, and it should reinforce public confidence in the CNE’s commitment to the integrity of the elections. It is my understanding that this new electoral transmission system is considered to be more effective and secure than the systems in place during previous elections, and it should help counter efforts–already reportedly underway–to undermine the fairness of the electoral process through legal and judicial maneuvers or to manufacture an excuse by some to challenge the results of the election if their candidate loses.
On September 3rd I also spoke about President Castro’s failure to achieve her pledge to establish an international commission to combat corruption and impunity, and the lack of progress in bringing to justice those responsible for the murder of environmentalist Juan Lopez and others who have lost their lives defending the land and water that Indigenous communities depend on. There is no doubt that part of the responsibility for the failure to establish the commission falls on the Honduran Congress, which is dominated by the National Party of former President Hernandez, whose government functioned as a criminal enterprise. But President Castro insisted this was a priority, including during her campaign, and it is disappointing that she and her government did not do more to build public support to overcome opposition in the Congress. Honduras’ justice system has so far been largely incapable of bringing to justice those responsible for significant crimes of corruption and for ordering the killings of environmental defenders, other social activists, and journalists – including Indigenous environmental leader Berta Caceres and members of cooperatives in the Aguan Valley, where land rights defenders continue to be targeted with violence. It is critically important that Honduras’ next president reaffirms the government’s commitment to such a commission and strives to make it a reality.
Mr. President, it is in the interest of the United States that on November 30th the people of Honduras can freely cast their votes in a fair election for the candidates of their choice. It is not the role of the United States to pick winners and losers. I hope the elections usher in a new government of leaders who are committed to strengthening the institutions of democracy, upholding the rule of law, and improving the lives and protecting the rights of the Honduran people.
Read and download the Statement for the Congressional Record here.