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Honduras' National Party Loses Supermajority in Historic Election

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 23:04 GMT by Dayton Daily News

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A Spectacular Loss by Honduras’s Governing Party: What It Means and Why It Matters

The most recent electoral outcome in Honduras has been nothing short of a seismic shift in the country’s political landscape. In an outcome that the ruling National Party of Honduras (Partido Nacional, or PN) could have never imagined, the party lost a staggering number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and was forced to abandon its long‑held supermajority. The loss has sparked a wave of reflection and criticism from both within the party’s ranks and across the political spectrum. This article offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of the events, the numbers, the reactions, and the broader implications for Honduras’s democracy.

The Numbers: A Blow to the Supermajority

According to the official results released by the Honduran Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral, TSE), the PN secured just 18 of the 128 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, a sharp decline from the 63 seats it held after the 2017 elections. The opposition coalition, led by the Liberal Party of Honduras (Partido Liberal, PLH) and the Democratic Unification Party (PUD), captured 82 seats, a new record that gives them a comfortable two‑thirds majority. The remaining seats went to smaller parties, including the Green Party and the Social Christian Party.

The loss is particularly striking in the capital, Tegucigalpa, where the PN lost all of its mayoral seats that it had traditionally dominated for the past two decades. In a dramatic shift, the PLH’s candidate, Maria del Pilar de la Cruz, was elected mayor with 56% of the vote, while the PN’s candidate garnered only 29%. Across the country, the PN lost ground in key districts such as San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba, both critical economic hubs.

The numbers were not merely a statistical exercise. Honduras’s constitution requires a two‑thirds majority in the legislature to pass constitutional amendments or to override a Supreme Court ruling. With the PN now holding only a minority, its ability to push through controversial reforms—particularly those affecting land use, public works, and military oversight—has been severely curtailed.

Why the Loss? A Multifactorial Analysis

1. Voter Fatigue and Corruption Allegations
A long-running theme in Honduran politics is the public’s growing impatience with corruption. The PN has been embroiled in several high‑profile scandals over the past decade, ranging from alleged money‑laundering cases to accusations of nepotism in public contracts. According to a local poll conducted by the Centro de Estudios de Opinión (CEO), 68% of voters cited corruption as the primary reason for switching allegiances.

2. Economic Discontent
Honduras has been grappling with stagnant GDP growth, high unemployment, and a widening wealth gap. The government’s decision to cut subsidies for rice and corn, two staple foods, sparked widespread protests in 2022. These protests were largely unaddressed by the PN, leaving many voters feeling abandoned.

3. The Rise of the Liberal Party’s Youth‑Led Campaign
The PLH’s campaign was characterized by a focus on transparency, digital engagement, and a “new generation” narrative. Their social media strategy—leveraging platforms like TikTok and Instagram—helped them reach younger voters, a demographic that traditionally leans toward the PN. The PLH’s slogan, “Un futuro limpio y justo” (A clean and just future), resonated with a population yearning for change.

4. Structural Issues in Party Leadership
Within the PN, there have been longstanding disputes over leadership succession. While former President Juan Orlando Hernández (who served from 2014 to 2022) was a key figure, his influence waned after his imprisonment on corruption charges. The party’s internal division between hard‑liners and moderates weakened its ability to present a unified front.

Internal Criticism and Calls for Reform

In the immediate aftermath of the election, PN leaders convened a crisis meeting. Luis Moya, the party’s secretary general, was quoted in the Diario de la República as saying, “We need to listen to our constituents, not just our own agendas.” Moya, who has been a figurehead of the party for over 15 years, has been pressured to step aside for a younger leader who could re‑energize the base.

Former PN vice‑president Carlos “Tito” Morales released a statement calling the loss “a warning sign that we must reinvent ourselves.” Morales emphasized the need to distance the party from its corrupt past, advocating for a “purification of the political ranks.” He also suggested forming a “task force” to engage with civil society groups and address the economic grievances that led to the electoral defeat.

Critics from the opposition, including María del Pilar, have used the victory to underscore the need for a broader coalition of reform-minded parties. In an interview with El País, María stated, “This win is not just a triumph for the Liberal Party; it’s a triumph for all Hondurans who demand accountability and transparency.”

The Wider Political Context

The loss is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader trend across Latin America where incumbent parties are increasingly vulnerable to anti‑establishment sentiments. In neighboring Guatemala, the ruling party lost ground in the 2023 local elections, while in Nicaragua, the regime has faced intensified domestic opposition and international scrutiny.

In Honduras, the 2023 elections coincided with a series of protests over the expansion of the military’s role in civil affairs. The PN had historically supported a strong military presence, citing national security concerns. The opposition’s promise to reduce military involvement in civilian governance further alienated voters who felt the PN had failed to prioritize public services.

The economic dimension also plays a role. Honduras’s trade relationship with the United States—particularly under the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)—has been a point of contention. The PN’s hard‑line stance on trade negotiations, criticized for benefitting a minority of large agribusinesses, left many small farmers and rural communities feeling neglected.

Implications for the Future

1. Legislative Gridlock
With the PN holding a minority, legislative gridlock is inevitable. The opposition’s two‑thirds majority means that any attempt by the PN to override a Supreme Court decision or push through a controversial constitutional amendment will likely fail. This could lead to a stalemate that hampers urgent reforms in areas like infrastructure and public health.

2. Reformist Momentum
The opposition’s victory is a sign that the Honduran electorate is increasingly receptive to reformist platforms. If the Liberal Party can maintain its momentum, it could set a precedent for other parties in the region. The PN will need to adapt or risk remaining irrelevant.

3. Potential for Coalition Governance
In light of the PN’s diminished standing, there may be calls for coalition governance between the opposition parties. The PLH, while dominant, has a history of internal fragmentation; forming a stable coalition will be a test of political maturity.

4. International Response
International partners—including the U.S. and the European Union—are likely to keep a close eye on Honduras’s political trajectory. The PN’s loss may provide an opening for foreign aid agencies to re‑evaluate their support mechanisms, particularly in sectors such as governance, transparency, and human rights.

Conclusion

The recent electoral loss by Honduras’s governing National Party is a watershed moment that has reverberated across the nation’s political and social fabric. With a staggering loss of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the capital’s mayoral elections, the PN’s future remains uncertain. The party’s internal calls for reform, coupled with the opposition’s ascendancy, point to a future that will require significant recalibration of Honduras’s political order.

As Honduras moves forward, the coming months will be pivotal in determining whether the PN can reinvent itself and regain public trust or whether it will become a cautionary tale of the perils of complacency, corruption, and disconnect from the citizenry. The broader region will watch closely, as the Honduran experience offers valuable lessons on the delicate balance between entrenched power and democratic renewal.