The presidential advisor to the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Honduras, Ana Paola Halldenounced this Tuesday new obstacles to the start of the special audit of 2,792 minutes of the November 30 elections, explaining that collaborators proposed by political parties are putting pressure on the organization, preventing the entry of officials and refusing to carry out the recount.
In a message published on the social network XHall claimed: “Is there a better description of a hijacking of institutionality? In the eyes and patience of all of us we find our freedom restricted, Our officials cannot enter to carry out their duties, and the personnel sent to conduct the special audit cannot enter (Political party employee) “He refuses to do his job and overwhelms (subjugates) the CNE.”.
In the same text, the official asked questions to the security authorities: “Where are the relevant investigations? Why don’t the authorities responsible for public order and the security of the trial report what is really happening?”
According to repeated complaints from Hall and the consultant, the special audit, scheduled to begin last Saturday, is not progressing due to a combination of technical and administrative problems, as well as threats and harassment. Cossette Lopez. The procedure is crucial to clarify discrepancies identified over thousands of minutes and to allow the official announcement of the results within the legal deadlines.
Hall warned of the institutional impact of blocking the process and called for external attention. “The electoral process and the future of Honduras, which belongs to everyone, is being taken away from us by a few, and I trust that the international community is paying attention and this is being documented.”he emphasized.
He also called for “reflection” and added a political warning: “Even if you don’t want to see it or accept it now: history will judge and be unforgiving!”
The presidential adviser also described the events in detail Election Logistics Center (CLE)where the voting materials are stored. According to the CNE, members of special committees proposed by political parties and not part of the organization’s staff are “have prevented and restricted our officers from accessing the CLEby demanding that they identify themselves and telling them that they (CNE employees) owe something to the parties and are imposing themselves because they have a significant numerical advantage.”
On his part Cossette Lopez described a “critical situation” at the facilities of the Electoral Logistics Center in the National Institute of Professional Training, where the special examination was to be conducted.
In XLópez explained that, as in the previous two days, the place is opposite “Violence and vandalism” are attributed to members of special verification and recount committees accredited by the Liberal and Libertad y Refundación (Libre) parties. “Today they prevent the normal exercise of functions”wrote.
The adviser claimed that events escalated into a more serious situation. “This has seriously escalated into actions construed as a situation of kidnapping of facilities, personnel and members of the JEVR (Special Verification and Count Boards),” he stated, adding that the entry and exit of CNE personnel were blocked. “Without any warning or action being taken to expose this fact for what it is: a kidnapping.”.
López recalled that the electoral body has non-transferable legal obligations. He pointed out that the CNE must do this “They are carrying out their duties to ensure the proper development of the election plan and also to protect the physical spaces and physical integrity of all our human resources.”.
The paralysis of control ensures that citizens have no official results for more than two weeks before the elections, in a context of high political polarization. The electoral calendar sets December 30 as the deadline for the CNE to publish the final results in accordance with the law.
According to the preliminary results of the CNE, in which 99.80% of the protocols were examined, the candidate of the National Party, Nasry “Tito” Asfuralead with 40.54% of the votes. Secondly, there is Salvador Nasrallades Liberal Partywith 39.19%. The official candidate, Rixi Moncadais in third place 19.29%. The resolution of the observed protocol is decisive for the conclusion of the process and the official announcement.
(With information from EFE)
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