TEGUCIGALPA — Conservative politician Nasry Asfura, widely known as "Tito," was sworn in as President of Honduras on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, marking the start of his 2026–2030 term following a bitterly contested election that divided the country and drew open support from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The low-key ceremony took place at the National Congress building in the capital, Tegucigalpa, where Asfura, 67, took the oath of office before Congressional President Tomás Zambrano, who draped the presidential sash across his shoulders. Only a small group of supporters, lawmakers from his National Party, and a limited number of dignitaries attended the event, which lacked the presence of foreign heads of state or leaders from neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador—departing from customary regional protocol for such occasions.
In his inaugural address, Asfura struck a conciliatory tone while acknowledging the polarized climate that preceded his victory. “We have to get to work with humility. Time has started to run, and we have to solve people’s problems in order to serve them,” he said. He called for national unity, stating: “Hondurans want peace and prosperity, and that is what we are going to focus on. A divided family does not move forward, and Honduras is a great family that must be respected and work together for its future.”
The new president outlined his administration’s priorities as security, social welfare, and education. He highlighted an early initiative to print and distribute 10 million books for first-grade students nationwide, framing it as a cornerstone of his education policy.
Asfura’s inauguration followed months of intense controversy surrounding the November 2025 general election. The ruling Libertad y Refundación (Libre) party, led by outgoing President Xiomara Castro, rejected the results as fraudulent, alleging irregularities in vote counting, voter intimidation, and manipulation of the electoral process. Libre leaders and supporters refused to recognize Asfura’s victory, with some party officials calling for continued protests and legal challenges.
The dispute intensified after President Trump publicly endorsed Asfura during the campaign, describing him as a “strong conservative leader” who would restore order and combat corruption—comments that opposition figures condemned as interference in Honduran sovereignty. Trump’s support was seen as decisive in rallying conservative and pro-business sectors, though it further alienated Libre loyalists who accused the U.S. of meddling in the electoral process.
Despite the boycott by Libre lawmakers and supporters, Asfura was sworn in under the auspices of the National Party-dominated Congress. The ceremony proceeded without major incident, though security was visibly heightened in the capital amid fears of demonstrations.
In the weeks leading up to his inauguration, Asfura had already begun shaping his international profile. He traveled to the United States, where he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials, and to Israel, where he held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visits underscored his alignment with conservative governments and signaled early priorities in security cooperation, investment attraction, and diplomatic outreach.
Asfura assumes office in a deeply polarized Honduras, inheriting challenges that include high levels of violent crime, gang activity, economic stagnation, migration pressures, and widespread distrust in public institutions. His administration has promised an aggressive focus on security—potentially involving stronger law enforcement measures and international partnerships—alongside economic reactivation through private-sector incentives and infrastructure development.
The absence of regional leaders at the inauguration highlighted the diplomatic isolation faced by Asfura’s incoming government from left-leaning administrations in Guatemala and El Salvador, both of which have maintained close ties with the outgoing Castro administration.
Political analysts in Tegucigalpa say the success of Asfura’s presidency will depend on his ability to bridge the divide between National Party supporters and Libre’s still-mobilized base. Failure to achieve reconciliation, they warn, could prolong instability and undermine efforts to attract foreign investment and international aid.
As he begins his term, President Asfura has called on all Hondurans to put aside differences and work collectively for the country’s future. Whether his message of unity can overcome the lingering bitterness of the electoral crisis remains one of the defining questions of his administration.
