Democracy News

Issues of Legitimacy Plague Long-Awaited Honduran Presidential Election
December 1, 2009
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

On November 29, in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, Porfirio Lobo, a member of the conservative National Party, defeated Elvin Santos of the Liberal Party in the Honduran presidential election.  Other presidential hopefuls included Bernard Martinez of the Innovation and Unity Party-Social-Democracy (PINU), Felicito Avila of the Christian Democrat Party (CD) and Cesar Ham of the Democratic Unification Party (PUD).  BBC News reports that Lobo won 56 percent of the vote.  Overall the election had a high voter turnout, around 62 percent, despite calls from ousted President Manuel Zelaya to boycott the polls.  Voice of America reports that Lobo has preliminarily pledged to “improve security, create new jobs and restore international ties.”  Enrique Ortez, head of the Honduran election council, has stated that the election should be viewed as a success and that governments of foreign countries have a “moral obligation” to recognize the election as legitimate.

CNN reports that Lobo’s legitimacy is still uncertain within the international community because the election commenced under the leadership of interim President Roberto Micheletti.  Micheletti and the de facto government have been in place since June 28 when the coup removed Manuel Zelaya at gunpoint.  Many international leaders had previously stated that they would not view the election as legitimate if it was conducted under the rule of the de facto government.  As of December 1, the countries of Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, and Spain have stated that they do not recognize Lobo as legitimate.  Zelaya has also stated that he will not recognize the outcome of the election.  In contrast, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica have declared that they will recognize Lobo as the next Honduran president. 

While the United States has expressed that they will recognize the outcome of the election, Washington is quick to mention that the topic of who will assume office in January is not the most pressing issue.  According to The New York Times, Arturo Valenzuela, the new Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs, stated: “The issue is whether the legitimate president of Honduras, who was overthrown in a coup d’état, will be returned to office.”  The United States is now urging the Honduran Congress to vote on whether or not to restore Zelaya to power.  BBC News states that Congress is set to vote on Zelaya’s reinstatement on December 2.  If reinstated, Zelaya would only remain in office until the January 27 inauguration.  According to a ruling made last week by the Honduran Supreme Court, Zelaya will not be allowed to return to office until he stands trial for trying to alter the constitution.  Both the Supreme Court and the Congress have ruled that Zelaya’s actions were illegal.  In addition, The New York Times reports that in a telephone interview, Zelaya stated that he will not return to office to merely function as a figurehead, noting that it would not change the fact that he was removed by a coup.  However, Zelaya might not even get the chance to reject his potential reinstatement; according to The Washington Post it is not likely that the Congress will vote to reinstate him.

Lobo has stated that he is willing to meet with Zelaya in order to restore unity within the politically fractured nation.  In the 2005  presidential election, Lobo was defeated by Zelaya – with Zelaya winning 46 percent of the vote.  Zelaya continues to take refuge at the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa.

Sources:
BBC News - Winner of disputed Honduras election appeals for unity
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8386869.stm

CNN - Nations divided on recognizing Honduran president-elect
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/11/30/honduras.elections/index.html

The New York Times - Fate of Ousted Leader Clouds Election Result in Honduras
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/world/americas/01honduras.html?scp=1&sq=honduras%20lobo&st=cse

Voice of America - Lobo Wins Honduran Presidential Vote
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Lobo-Wins-Honduran-Vote-30NOV09--78133697.html

The Washington Post - U.S. and some allies at odds over Honduras presidential election
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/29/AR2009112900989.html?hpid=moreheadline