The electoral results transmission system in Honduras has been questioned by various social and political actors who express concerns about the legitimacy and institutional stability of the country. According to Europa Press, the controversy gained strength after National Electoral Council (CNE) adviser and Freedom and Refoundation Party (Libre) representative Marlon Ochoa published a letter in which he claimed that the Provisional Election Results Transmission System (TREP) was subject to both internal manipulation and the possible complicity of foreign actors, which, according to his complaint, could alter the data collected and unlawfully determine the winners of the elections. This accusation – made via the social network
According to Europa Press, Marlon Ochoa accused the Liberal Party and the National Party of being responsible for an alleged coordinated strategy to manipulate the election results. He explained that in addition to the technical vulnerabilities of the TREP system, selective storage of logs and the collapse of the transmission portal were also observed as part of the mechanism to facilitate the alleged manipulation. According to Ochoa, this maneuver would not have been possible without the intervention and alliance with actors outside the country who had influence in defining the results. Following the dissemination of these statements, the remaining CNE council members decided to take legal action to respond to the seriousness of the allegations, deepening divisions within the highest electoral body.
In addition, Europa Press reported that Cossette López-Osorio, CNE advisor, used the same social network X to respond to Ochoa’s letter. He announced the filing of new complaints against his colleague and recalled that he had previously filed a lawsuit for defamation and another for eleven cases of violence against women. López-Osorio said: “He will answer for all the crimes he commits against me, he will answer without inventing false evidence,” according to Europa Press. These confrontations and the opening of legal proceedings highlight the extent of the institutional rupture within the CNE and the high degree of judicialization of disputes between its members.
As a result of his complaints, Ochoa reiterated both in public forums and in interviews that the traditional parties – Liberal and National – were behind what he described to the media as “organized electoral fraud.” He pointed out that the vulnerabilities of the computer system made it possible to transfer votes between candidates and directly change the results, calling into question the authenticity of the will of citizens expressed in the elections. As Europa Press reported, Ochoa argued that collaboration between parties and foreign actors multiplied the opportunities to interfere in the official results, raising concerns at the national and international levels about the transparency of the process.
The situation reached an international dimension following a statement by Christopher Landau, the United States Undersecretary of State, who publicly called on the Honduran authorities and political representatives to preserve the transparency and independence of the CNE. Media outlet Europa Press reported that Landau declared: “The Honduran people deserve to have their will respected and their voice heard,” stressing that the autonomy of the electoral body is a fundamental prerequisite for legitimizing control. Landau also noted the support that then-President Donald Trump gave former candidate Nasry Asfura and stated that both the United States and international organizations are closely monitoring the situation in Honduras. According to him, “the eyes of the world, including ours, are on Honduras,” which shows that attention to the process goes beyond the national level.
Europa Press explained that the CNE consists of three councilors appointed by the National Congress, whose term of office is five years and who are not allowed to hold party functions during their term of office. Since its creation in 2019, replacing the Supreme Electoral Court, the body has been responsible for guiding and monitoring the integrity of the country’s democratic processes. The chairmanship of the corporation rotates regularly between its members.
The debate over the functioning and transparency of the TREP system coincided with increasing complaints from citizens, political organizations and international observers demanding guarantees to reduce any possibility of manipulation or irregularities. Technological failures and allegations of abuse of the system have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the results and the potential impact on Honduras’ institutional stability.
Amid a tense political climate, the opening of litigation and accusations between CNE council members themselves have exacerbated polarization in Honduras. According to Europa Press, the counter-complaints, the increase in lawsuits and the involvement of international actors reflect the complexity of the political electoral environment and the multiple factors that influence societal trust in the electoral system. The atmosphere before and after the elections reveals deep divisions in the body responsible for overseeing democratic processes and increases societal demands for a cleansing and strengthening of control mechanisms.
Ochoa has publicly stressed the urgency of protecting the authentic “expression of the people’s will” and warned of the danger that any kind of manipulation could undermine public trust in the electoral system. The official argued for strengthening voting protections and warned of the damage to institutional representation that would be caused by changing the results. Given this, both domestic and international pressure, particularly from multilateral organizations and foreign observers, have focused their attention on the functioning of the CNE and the importance of maintaining democratic validity in Honduras.
The controversies and level of confrontation within the CNE have increased pressure to introduce reforms and update voter registration and control systems. According to Europa Press, the social outcry has intensified due to a series of episodes that have tested the credibility of electoral institutions and the country’s ability to ensure transparent and authentic processes. The evolution of these events has become a central theme of Honduras’ political agenda and a point of reference for international observation, closely assessing the progress, setbacks and challenges posed by democracy in the Central American country.
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