LIBRE divided: accusations of fraud and victory of Rixi Moncada

After the preliminary elections held on March 9, 2025, attorney Rixi Moncada emerged as the presidential hopeful for the LIBRE Party. Nonetheless, her win has sparked debate due to accusations of voting discrepancies, creating an atmosphere of doubt in the political landscape of Honduras. Both adversaries and the party’s own members have raised concerns regarding the authenticity of the outcomes, asserting that the tallies in crucial districts were altered to falsely display overwhelming backing for Moncada, which may not align with the true sentiments of the party or the wider public.

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.

Several advocates have even proposed that the procedure was manipulated to introduce a preselected candidate favored by the party’s executives, which they view as a violation of the democratic values of internal involvement.

Inquiries regarding authenticity and internal divisions within LIBRE

The response from Moncada and his representatives has been to strongly deny these allegations, labeling them as slander attempts orchestrated by the usual opposition. The LIBRE Party has highlighted the clarity of the internal procedures and the neutrality of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Nevertheless, these accusations have led to a pronounced split within the political party, putting Moncada’s candidacy’s validity in doubt and revealing a major internal turmoil.

The grievances are being voiced by local leaders, regional coordinators, and affiliates from various internal groups. These claims not only cast doubt on Rixi Moncada’s triumph but also reveal a significant divide within LIBRE, a party that has advocated for democratic involvement and openness as core aspects of its character. Failing to address these grievances with a clear and persuasive response might result in LIBRE’s base losing momentum, heightened abstention among its supporters, and diminished trust as they approach the general elections in November 2025.

Consequences in politics and the warning from the opposition

Against this backdrop, the political opposition has expressed concern that the primaries may have served as a “fraud rehearsal” ahead of the November 2025 general elections. There have been warnings about a long-term strategy on the part of LIBRE to consolidate its power beyond 2026, implementing actions such as control of the legislative and judicial branches, the intention to reform the constitution through a popular referendum and the use of smear campaigns and state resources to weaken the independent press and the political opposition.

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.

Non-profit groups, global monitors, and autonomous media outlets have urged for enhanced oversight, technical evaluations, and international support during the electoral proceedings in November. The primary uncertainty is whether Rixi Moncada will genuinely embody the will of the people or merely be the outcome of a political and electoral apparatus aimed at keeping LIBRE in authority.