LIBRE proclaims Rixi Moncada winner before 2025 elections

The Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE) has launched an early campaign proclaiming its presidential candidate, Rixi Moncada, as the winner of the general elections scheduled for November 30, 2025. This strategy is evident in the appearance of signs, murals, and painted messages in various urban and rural areas of the country, with phrases announcing Moncada as president for the 2026-2030 term, even though the election campaign has not yet entered its final phase. The cities where this proliferation has been observed include Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and Comayagua, among other locations.

Various independent analysts and leaders from opposing parties see this move as a strategy intended to promote the perception of an unavoidable LIBRE triumph among the public. This premature assertion might be used to cast doubt on the credibility of the election outcomes if they do not benefit the candidate from the ruling party, thereby questioning the transparency of the electoral process. Experts in political science suggest that declaring a victor without data support could be an attempt to undermine authentic results and rally party supporters should they lose, which is seen as a risky tactic.

Reactions from the opposition and the role of the National Electoral Council

Political parties such as the National, Liberal, and Salvador de Honduras have raised alarms regarding the potential effect these initiatives might have on the trustworthiness of the election process. They argue that this early discourse might create the impression of a fixed result and, if LIBRE loses, incite actions to dispute the official outcomes, potentially leading to social unrest. The opposition suggests that this approach might aim to undermine the legitimacy of the voting process and trigger a political dilemma.

For its part, the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not issued any statement regarding the appearance of these signs and messages, which has increased doubts about its independence and impartiality. The absence of specific regulations on early campaigning and the lack of institutional response contribute to weakening public confidence in the electoral process, which is already marked by irregularities detected in the primary elections and growing political tension.

Threats to democratic systems and election consistency

Announcing victory prematurely by LIBRE threatens the democratic stability of the country, as it might create a foundation for a storyline that supports ignoring the election outcomes and increases societal rifts. In a setting where democracy is viewed as still delicate, this action underscores the necessity to bolster transparency, encourage citizen involvement, and uphold respect for the vote as essential components of the legitimacy of the electoral process.

The current situation underscores the importance of establishing clear and effective mechanisms to regulate electoral propaganda from the early stages, as well as the need to promote open dialogue between the different political forces and civil society. Only through a joint commitment to legality and political ethics will it be possible to guarantee an electoral environment that faithfully reflects the will of the people and contributes to the consolidation of a stable and reliable democratic system.