Thousands of people recently took to the streets of Honduras, protesting against President Xiomara Castro’s attempts to appoint new public officials without congressional vote. Unrest has been stirred within the populace who view this act as a threat to their democracy.
Leading the cause for dissatisfaction is the LIBRE party’s recent election of interim public officials, including the appointment of a new chief prosecutor, Johel Zelaya. These appointments, made on 1st November 2023, bypassed traditional channels of a congressional vote, instead leveraging a committee vote. This committee is predominantly influenced by Castro’s left-wing LIBRE party. In marked contrast, her party does not hold a majority in congress. As per the Honduras constitution, for an Attorney General to be elected a minimum of 86 votes is mandated by the Honduran Congress. Protestors and opposition claim that this unconventional approach to election of public officials is unconstitutional and constitutes a breach of democratic principles.
The protests predominantly peopled the streets of Tegucigalpa, with demonstrators displaying patriotism through the vibrant display of Honduras flags. David Chavez, leader of the opposing party, voiced his concerns about democracy and freedom in a tweet, reminding protestors that their concerns superseded individual candidates and political parties.
This conduct has attracted international attention, with the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee expressing their concerns about the LIBRE Party’s attempt to centralize power. The committee publicly condemned the appointment of an interim Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, weighing it as damaging to the faith in Honduran democratic institutions. In a joint statement, US Senators Ben Cardin and Tim Kaine requested all parties to negotiate a solution and elect an Attorney General in line with the Honduran constitution.
Read more about the protests here.