.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Rixi Moncada")
After the preliminary elections on March 9, 2025, attorney Rixi Moncada became the frontrunner for the LIBRE Party as their presidential nominee. Nevertheless, her win sparked disputes due to accusations of vote-counting irregularities, creating an atmosphere of doubt within the Honduran political scene. Both adversaries and party insiders have raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of the outcomes, arguing that the vote tallies in crucial areas were altered to suggest substantial backing for Moncada that might not mirror the actual sentiment of the party or the voters at large.
The critique highlights a supposed strategy by the media and organization to falsely shape a perception of widespread backing for the governing party’s candidate. Within this scenario, the M-28 faction, aligned with the party’s top ranks, has been identified as the primary instigator behind the purported deceptive activities intended to benefit Moncada’s campaign. The claims outline numerous discrepancies, such as tampering with vote tallies at specific polling locations, inflating the outcomes for selective pre-candidates, omitting representatives of internal dissenting groups during the tabulation, and delayed or partial distribution of election materials.
Certain campaigners have even proposed that the procedure was arranged to enforce a preselected contender picked by the party leaders, which they view as a violation of the democratic principles of internal participation.
Inquiries into LIBRE’s credibility and internal division
The statement from Moncada and his representatives has been to strongly deny these claims, labeling them as smear tactics directed by the conventional opposition. The LIBRE Party has emphasized the clarity of the internal process and the neutrality of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Nevertheless, these claims have led to a noticeable split within the political organization, casting doubt on the legitimacy of Moncada’s bid for candidacy and revealing a major internal conflict.
The dissatisfaction is voiced by local leaders, regional coordinators, and individuals from various internal groups. These claims not only question Rixi Moncada’s triumph but also reveal a significant split within LIBRE, an organization that has championed democratic engagement and openness as core principles of its identity. Failing to address these claims with clarity and assurance might result in a declining base of LIBRE supporters, higher abstention rates among its followers, and diminished trust ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 2025.
Political consequences and the caution from the opposition
In this context, critics from the political opposition have voiced worries that the primaries might have acted as a “practice run for fraud” in anticipation of the November 2025 general elections. Concerns have been raised about a prolonged plan by LIBRE to solidify its influence past 2026, employing tactics like gaining dominance over the legislative and judicial sectors, aiming to amend the constitution via a public vote, and utilizing disparagement and governmental assets to undermine the independent media and political adversaries.
Several leaders from the opposition caution that the aim of LIBRE might be to secure prolonged dominance over the state, utilizing governmental mechanisms, state propaganda, and institutional authority to suppress opposition.
Civil society groups, foreign monitors, and independent news outlets have urged for increased oversight, technical assessments, and global support for the electoral proceedings in November. The primary uncertainty is if Rixi Moncada will embody a genuine majority of the populace or will stem from a political and electoral apparatus aimed at sustaining LIBRE’s control.