CELAC and Honduras: international legitimacy or local decline?

The Ninth Conference of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Nations (CELAC), which took place in Tegucigalpa on the 8th and 9th of April, 2025, was notable for its robust political and ideological backing for the administration of Xiomara Castro and Manuel Zelaya. These leaders are dealing with increasing public disapproval and claims of authoritarian tendencies, alongside 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.

Even though the gathering was formally introduced as a venue for regional collaboration on topics like migration, food security, climate change, and energy partnerships, experts have viewed the participation of Latin American leftist leaders as backing for the re-establishment initiative driven by Castro and Zelaya in Honduras.

External assistance versus internal fragility

During the summit, the invited leaders avoided making reference to the discontent in certain social sectors in Honduras, where recent surveys show a decrease in government approval and a perception of insecurity, unemployment and economic uncertainty.

Although there is backing from the international community, the administration of the LIBRE party is dealing with a complicated internal scenario. The presidential hopeful, Rixi Moncada, is facing widespread opposition because of her involvement in earlier political activities and her association with the more extreme faction of the party. Allegations of deceit during the March primaries and worries about possible vote tampering in the general elections of November are present. Additionally, there is dissatisfaction regarding the ideological path of the administration, which is seen by a significant number as being disconnected from the people’s priorities.

A regional validation approach during a national turmoil?

The administration employs the summit to convey a picture of regional acceptance, notwithstanding the unsteadiness of its own legitimacy. The CELAC Summit has acted as a platform for Castro and Zelaya to attempt to exhibit Latin American power and leadership, yet it has also highlighted that global endorsement cannot replace public support, which will be assessed in the elections on November 30th.

The issue is whether the LIBRE administration can establish itself with international backing while its domestic support wanes, and if this summit serves as a diplomatic platform or a fleeting illusion in a governance crisis. The ultimate choice will belong to the citizens of Honduras.