Gustavo Palencia and David Alire Garcia

TEGUCIGALPA – Hondurans voted on Sunday for a new president. The leftist candidate Xiomara Cuba hopes to defeat the National Party. Its 12-year reign has been plagued by graft corruptions, chronic unemployment, and wave after wave of fleeing migrants.

Castro could become the country’s first woman President if she wins. It would also mark the return of left-leaning power after her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, was overthrown in a coup that took place in 2009.

Voters have praised her for her efforts in consolidating opposition to President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez has repeatedly denied being linked to corrupt gangs. Recent voter polls confirmed that she is the favorite to win.

This election marks the latest political crisis in Central America. It is a key point of drug trafficking and a significant source for U.S.-bound migrants.

Castro’s biggest rival is Nasry, the National Party’s Nasfura. A wealthy businessman and mayor of Tegucigalpa for two terms, Asfura has sought to distance itself from Castro.

Hernandez’s controversial 2017 election reelection is still a big deal. Its ugly aftermath will be a major factor in Sunday’s vote.

There were widespread reports that Hernandez had committed irregularities, which led to deadly protests and the deaths of nearly two dozen people. Hernandez won the election with the support of allies in the electoral council. The government of the then-U.S. president Donald Trump vouched to it a few days later.

Many national and international election monitors will observe Sunday’s votes, including an 80-member delegation of the Washington-based Organization of American States under former Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Solis said that “the voice of the Honduran People must be respected” and warned against violence.

About 5.2 million Hondurans can vote.

Late Saturday saw tension in Tegucigalpa’s neighborhoods. Some businesses had their windows rolled up and some auto dealers located close to the presidential offices had taken out all of their vehicles. In the past, the neighborhood was the site of loud protests.

Political violence, which has claimed the lives of 31 people since March’s primary elections, includes local activists and candidates from all three major parties, Castro’s Libre Party (National Party), as well as the centre-right Liberal Party.

Although the National Party and this latter were once part of an established two-party duopoly, they now rank in the distant third position. Yani Rosenthal is the presidential candidate. He was a former minister in cabinet and has just recently returned from a three year sentence in America for money laundering.

The election results will affect not only the presidency but also the composition of 128 members of the unicameral Congress and officials in 300 local government.

The polls will open at 7 AM and close at 5 PM. However, they could extend one hour depending upon the lines. The preliminary results of the polls are expected to be announced at 9 p.m.