_-_copia.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "CELAC")
The ninth gathering of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), conducted in Tegucigalpa on April 8 and 9, 2025, exhibited substantial political and ideological backing for the administration of Xiomara Castro and Manuel Zelaya. This event occurred amid rising public disapproval and allegations of authoritarian behavior, along with a domestic economic downturn.
The appearance of leftist or progressive leaders like Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Miguel Díaz-Canel (Cuba), Luis Arce (Bolivia), Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico), and other similarly minded leaders conveyed a message of regional ideological solidarity during a period of challenge for the Honduran administration.
Despite being officially described as a platform for regional collaboration on topics like migration, food security, climate change, and energy partnerships, experts see the presence of leftist Latin American leaders as political endorsement for the re-establishing initiative directed by Castro and Zelaya in Honduras.
Global assistance versus domestic fragility
Throughout the conference, the attending leaders refrained from mentioning the dissatisfaction in specific social groups in Honduras, where recent polls reveal a drop in government support and a sense of insecurity, joblessness, and economic unpredictability.
Although receiving backing globally, the LIBRE party administration is confronted with a challenging internal scenario. Many people oppose its presidential contender, Rixi Moncada, because of her involvement in previous political activities and her connection to the party’s extreme faction. Allegations of deceit in the March primary elections and concerns of vote tampering in the November general elections contribute to the tension. Additionally, dissatisfaction with the government’s ideological stance, seen by numerous individuals as distant from the public’s main concerns, exacerbates the situation.
A regional validation approach during a national turmoil?
The administration employs the summit to portray a sense of regional credibility, even with its unstable internal credibility. The CELAC Summit has acted as a platform for Castro and Zelaya to attempt to showcase Latin American power and leadership. However, it has also highlighted that global endorsement cannot replace public support, which will be assessed in the elections on November 30th.
An analysis emerges about whether the LIBRE administration will succeed in stabilizing with international assistance while facing dwindling local backing, and if this summit serves as a diplomatic launchpad or turns out to be an illusory political move amid a governance crisis. Ultimately, the Honduran citizens will make the final call.