Gustavo Palencia & David Alire Garcia

TEGUCIGALPA – Honduran opposition candidate Xiomara Cuba declared victory in Sunday’s presidential elections. The initial results showed a landslide win, which would bring the left back to power after her husband was overthrown in a coup 12 year ago.

Castro, wife of the former President Manuel Zelaya held nearly 45% of the votes. She was nearly 20 points ahead of Nasry Asfura (capital’s mayor) who is a hopeful for the ruling National Party. He won over 53% support to his 34%, according to preliminary results.

Contrary to the four-year ago election, Honduras’s first female President seemed set to take place without violence, barring a bigger change of fortune than that sudden swing in votes that marred 2017, hours after the count had stopped.

In the middle of corruption scandals in Central America, this year’s elections were held against a background of social unrest.

Castro declared herself a democratic socialist, in a country that has very few women holding power. She pledged to eradicate graft through her campaign.

She told her supporters that they had turned back authoritarianism late Sunday. Surrounded by family and friends of the Libre Party, she spoke to her supporters, along with her Libre Party loyalists, and Zelaya who was ousted after business and military elites joined forces against her, ushering him in twelve years of right-wing rule.

Castro said, “We are going to form an government of reconciliation. A government of peace and justice.”

Additionally, she vowed that direct democracy would be strengthened by holding referendums. This tool has been used repeatedly by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico.

Although she has been criticized as being a dangerous left-wing radical by some, business leaders were quick to offer their congratulations.

Eduardo Facusse wrote on Twitter on Sunday night, “The private sector will do everything necessary to ensure that your administration represents transformation.”

Castro was a twice-incumbent candidate for the presidency. He took advantage of the disillusionment with outgoing President Juan Orlando Hernandez who amended the Constitution to permit his 2017 disputed re-election. Later, Castro was implicated in drug trafficking cases in U.S. Federal Court.

Hernandez repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. However, Asfura, his candidate for the party was keen to maintain his distance with the president throughout the election campaign.

Asfura encouraged voters to have patience, in a post shared on social media Sunday night. However, she did not say anything.

With no official results from the electoral council, the fate of Honduras’ 128-member Congress remains uncertain. Castro’s life could become more complicated if it is possible for the National Party to retain control.