The Fort Worth Press - Honduras political crisis deepens ahead of president-elect's swearing-in

USD -
AED 3.673029
AFN 69.901592
ALL 94.336007
AMD 393.250352
ANG 1.79454
AOA 918.000244
ARS 1017.283952
AUD 1.597636
AWG 1.8
AZN 1.699053
BAM 1.874072
BBD 2.010521
BDT 118.990811
BGN 1.87539
BHD 0.375715
BIF 2943.915831
BMD 1
BND 1.352325
BOB 6.880923
BRL 6.080703
BSD 0.995774
BTN 84.654229
BWP 13.762804
BYN 3.258689
BYR 19600
BZD 2.00161
CAD 1.43535
CDF 2869.999725
CHF 0.893015
CLF 0.035848
CLP 989.150008
CNY 7.2979
CNH 7.30276
COP 4390
CRC 502.39074
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 105.658298
CZK 24.048498
DJF 177.317197
DKK 7.14363
DOP 60.635678
DZD 134.77161
EGP 50.839403
ERN 15
ETB 124.126733
EUR 0.957855
FJD 2.31705
FKP 0.791982
GBP 0.794499
GEL 2.810291
GGP 0.791982
GHS 14.637652
GIP 0.791982
GMD 71.99981
GNF 8602.830559
GTQ 7.672406
GYD 208.324949
HKD 7.76927
HNL 25.276684
HRK 7.172906
HTG 130.26897
HUF 396.50966
IDR 16141
ILS 3.64074
IMP 0.791982
INR 84.98515
IQD 1304.414484
IRR 42087.502803
ISK 138.990394
JEP 0.791982
JMD 155.795747
JOD 0.7091
JPY 156.525017
KES 128.550148
KGS 86.999866
KHR 4001.494811
KMF 466.124982
KPW 899.999441
KRW 1450.919862
KWD 0.30795
KYD 0.829812
KZT 522.944395
LAK 21794.540106
LBP 89168.367494
LKR 292.350591
LRD 180.728433
LSL 18.332231
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.892632
MAD 10.021656
MDL 18.341143
MGA 4698.115196
MKD 58.963598
MMK 3247.960992
MNT 3397.99987
MOP 7.97156
MRU 39.601
MUR 47.201488
MVR 15.40234
MWK 1726.205872
MXN 20.06779
MYR 4.484945
MZN 63.903729
NAD 18.332231
NGN 1546.449571
NIO 36.642041
NOK 11.30141
NPR 135.44715
NZD 1.767284
OMR 0.384703
PAB 0.995774
PEN 3.707899
PGK 4.037907
PHP 58.624503
PKR 277.163787
PLN 4.080338
PYG 7764.394745
QAR 3.629996
RON 4.767304
RSD 112.080183
RUB 102.879543
RWF 1388.066423
SAR 3.756601
SBD 8.383555
SCR 13.934324
SDG 601.508506
SEK 11.013195
SGD 1.354555
SHP 0.791982
SLE 22.798616
SLL 20969.503029
SOS 569.08232
SRD 35.13097
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.713025
SYP 2512.530243
SZL 18.327728
THB 34.268001
TJS 10.893341
TMT 3.51
TND 3.172929
TOP 2.342097
TRY 35.190785
TTD 6.758272
TWD 32.685801
TZS 2414.99981
UAH 41.761098
UGX 3652.705513
UYU 44.413143
UZS 12838.129186
VES 51.475232
VND 25435
VUV 118.722003
WST 2.762788
XAF 628.546104
XAG 0.033647
XAU 0.000381
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.759575
XOF 628.546104
XPF 114.276406
YER 250.374974
ZAR 18.292955
ZMK 9001.202676
ZMW 27.557229
ZWL 321.999592
  • BCC

    -0.2600

    122.75

    -0.21%

  • CMSD

    0.0000

    23.56

    0%

  • NGG

    0.8200

    58.5

    +1.4%

  • SCS

    -0.5800

    11.74

    -4.94%

  • GSK

    0.1700

    33.6

    +0.51%

  • BTI

    0.1131

    36.24

    +0.31%

  • RIO

    -0.0900

    58.64

    -0.15%

  • CMSC

    0.0200

    23.86

    +0.08%

  • AZN

    0.9100

    65.35

    +1.39%

  • BP

    0.1900

    28.6

    +0.66%

  • RELX

    -0.3100

    45.47

    -0.68%

  • BCE

    0.0500

    23.16

    +0.22%

  • RBGPF

    59.9600

    59.96

    +100%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0100

    7.27

    -0.14%

  • VOD

    0.0100

    8.39

    +0.12%

  • JRI

    0.1100

    12.06

    +0.91%

Honduras political crisis deepens ahead of president-elect's swearing-in
Honduras political crisis deepens ahead of president-elect's swearing-in

Honduras political crisis deepens ahead of president-elect's swearing-in

Rival factions of Honduras' newly-elected congress held duelling first sessions Tuesday as a split in president-elect Xiomara's Castro's party deepened two days before her swearing-in.

Text size:

With the United States watching closely, about a third of the 50 MPs of Castro's leftist Libre party pressed on with a rebellion that could threaten her hold on Congress.

Castro needs a firm majority to implement her anti-corruption and political reform platform in a country battered by poverty, migration and drug trafficking.

On Sunday, the Libre rebels -- with backing from rightwing parties hitherto in control of the legislature -- named one of their own, Jorge Calix, as Congress president in a ceremony at a private venue.

In the legislature, meanwhile, Castro loyalists nominated Luis Redondo of Libre's alliance partner, the Savior Party of Honduras (PSH), as had been agreed before the election.

The Libre rebels broke ranks because they insist Congress should be led by the party with the most members -- Libre has 50 deputies compared to just 10 for the Savior party.

Sunday's events came just days after lawmakers came to blows in the legislative chamber over who should lead Congress -- chosen last November in general elections won by Castro and Libre -- for its four-year term.

Calix and the other rebels were then expelled from the party, but remain lawmakers for now.

- Call for calm -

Castro has recognized Redondo and invited him to preside over her swearing-in on Thursday.

She has branded Calix a "traitor" doing the bidding of entrenched rightwing politicians opposed to her vow to clean house.

On Tuesday, Redondo presided over an opening session of part of the Congress in the legislature building.

In parallel, and via Zoom, Calix presided over an alternative session with almost 20 rebel Libre members as well as MPs of the National and Liberal parties.

The Calix meeting drew more lawmakers -- over 70, which is a majority of the 128-member Congress.

Numbers for Redondo were bolstered by substitute lawmakers standing in in the absence of the rebels attending the Calix gathering.

"We call on political actors to remain calm, to engage in dialogue, to refrain from violence and provocative rhetoric," US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington on Monday.

- 'We will be talking' -

US Vice President Kamala Harris is due to attend Thursday's swearing-in.

But the uncertainty in Congress has created a legitimacy crisis around Castro, with analysts saying the ceremony could be delayed.

Redondo claimed Monday that "someone from the American embassy contacted me, and we will be talking to them."

Honduran media reported that Calix also received a call from the US embassy -- which he did not confirm.

Dissident congressman Yahve Sabillon told local media that representatives for Calix and Redondo had met to seek an agreement.

AFP could not independently verify this information.

Castro won election on November 28 to become the first woman president of Honduras and end 12 years of rightwing National Party (PN) rule.

She is the wife of Manuel Zelaya, a former president who was deposed in a 2009 coup supported by the military, business elites and the political right.

Castro's victory involved an alliance with the PSH, which will see its leader Salvador Nasralla named vice-president.

Calix had promised Sunday to work for Castro's program, in spite of her rejection of his nomination.

"We have a communication with this dissident group. They are all friends. We are always talking to them and looking for ways out," Zelaya, coordinator of Libre, told AFP.

"Logically we support Luis Redondo, but we are always open to seeking integration and dialogue," he added.

C.M.Harper--TFWP