By Luis De Jesus
01 Sep 2024, 19:39 PM EDT
The government of Xiomara Castro in Honduras is facing a critical moment following the resignation of the Secretary of Parliament, Carlos Zelaya, and the Minister of Defense, José Manuel Zelaya, both relatives of former President Manuel Zelaya, amid a drug trafficking scandal.
The resignation of these senior officials, linked to the elimination of the extradition treaty with the United States, has caused a strong political upheaval and could have serious repercussions for the ruling party ahead of the 2025 elections.
Carlos Zelaya, brother of the former Honduran president, admitted to having met in 2013 with drug traffickers, including Juan Ramón Matta Waldurraga, son of the famous drug trafficker Juan Ramón Matta Ballesteros, and with a leader of the Los Cachiros gang.
Although Zelaya claimed not to have accepted the money offered to him for his campaign, this confession unleashed a whirlwind of criticism and questions about the integrity of the government.
Following the statements made to the MP by the deputy @CarlosZelaya and his resignation before Congress to submit to a national and international investigation for his presence in a video from 11 years ago with people accused of drug trafficking, I call for an emergency session…
— Manuel Zelaya R. (@manuelzr) August 31, 2024
Facing mounting scrutiny, President Xiomara Castro has accepted the resignation of her defense minister, José Manuel Zelaya, appointing in his place Rixi Moncada, a lawyer close to the family and a former official in Manuel Zelaya’s government, Efe reports.
However, this change in the cabinet has failed to alleviate concerns about the stability and future of the Liberty and Refoundation Party, which could be seriously affected in the elections.
Political analysts such as Olban Valladares point out that these resignations mark only the beginning of a deeper crisis within the government and the Libre Party.
According to Valladares, the rapid decline in popularity of Xiomara Castro, who in 2021 became the most voted presidential candidate in the history of Honduras, is a clear indication that she faces serious challenges that could harm her electoral chances in 2025.
The mission of the @PartidoLibre and the Resistance is above the exercise of a public office, therefore, and so that the investigation can be carried out with complete freedom, I have submitted my resignation as Minister of Defense to President @XiomaraCastroZ, highlighting the integrity and honor of my…
— Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales (@JoseMZelayaR) August 31, 2024
The impact on the president’s image is significant.
Valladares warned that these events have further weakened the government, which now faces discredit not only at the national level, but also in the international community.
Xiomara Castro’s decision to end the extradition treaty with the United States has been seen as a controversial move that could exacerbate perceptions that the government is beholden to questionable interests.
Attorney Jaime Rodriguez agreed that the situation is shameful and predicted that the Libre Party will face a strong punishment at the polls due to this scandal. He also criticized the decision to cancel the treaty as a weak response to criticism from the U.S. embassy.
Former presidential appointee Salvador Nasralla was even more forceful: he declared that the government’s days were numbered.
He also pledged to reinstate the extradition treaty if he wins the elections in 2025 and accused President Castro of becoming an accomplice to drug trafficking by eliminating this key tool in the fight against organized crime.
Continue reading:
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