The 2025 elections in Honduras are at risk due to controversies in the Armed Forces

The electoral process set for 2025 in Honduras has been characterized by a series of occurrences that have heightened unpredictability and discussions regarding the democratic frameworks of the nation. A report from an internal review conducted by the National Electoral Council (CNE) pointed fingers at the Armed Forces for major logistical shortcomings in the primary elections. Meanwhile, recent actions concerning the selective disarmament of military personnel have sparked doubts about the impartiality of the military establishment.

Added to this is the appeal from constitutional specialists to amend the Constitution and eliminate the involvement of the military in any electoral duties, amid an environment where trust in the procedures and outcomes is at its lowest point.

CNE reviews and discusses military involvement in electoral processes

The audit report from the CNE, which was disclosed to the media, outlined that the delayed, incomplete, and disorderly dispatch of voting materials to several polling locations was due to anomalies in how the military adhered to the logistical procedures, as they were in charge of the security and allocation of the voting kits.

Among the most relevant findings were unjustified route diversions, the detention of electoral transport units for several hours, the incomplete delivery of technological kits to rural areas, and a lack of communication between military commanders and electoral coordinators. These events caused delays of up to 12 hours in the opening of the polls, affecting citizen participation and raising doubts about the transparency of the process, especially with regard to the LIBRE Party, which had already been accused of irregularities.

The document emerged during a time of intense political strain, amid escalating concerns that the military might not remain impartial during the nationwide elections planned for November 30, 2025. Up to this point, the top military officials have refrained from making an official comment, and the LIBRE Party administration has not spoken out, leading some groups to view this as a potential indication of collusion.

In reaction to this scenario, opposing groups like the National, Liberal, and Salvador de Honduras parties have called for a thorough reassessment of the logistical support agreement between the CNE and the Armed Forces, the premature deployment of international observers, and independent evaluations of the results transmission system.

Targeted disarmament of personnel and internal conflicts within the Military Forces

Amid the climate of political polarization, the decision by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to selectively disarm several Armed Forces officers has raised concerns in military, political, and civil society circles. According to military sources and reports in the national media, the disarmament is not being carried out across the board or for technical or security reasons, but exclusively targeting officers who have expressed independent or critical views of the ruling party.

This measure has been interpreted as an attempt at a silent purge within the military establishment, breaking with the tradition of neutrality and raising suspicions about the objective of ensuring total political control of the national security apparatus ahead of the general elections.

Targeted reduction of arms is the newest move in a string of recent measures, including shifts in military leadership and compulsory relocations, that have heightened strain and frustration within the organization, particularly among middle- and senior-level officers. A number of the officers who have been disarmed are now assigned to administrative roles, seen as a method of segregating them from the operational sector and the election proceedings.

The primary concern among opposition figures and democratic groups is that if the ruling party faces potential loss at the elections, the government might employ the military to ignore the results or suppress public protests.

These events have fueled the national debate on the need to modernize and shield the electoral process from any armed interference, especially in a context where Honduras’ democratic stability is being questioned. Social and political pressure on Congress to push for constitutional reform that redefines the role of the Armed Forces in Honduran democracy has become a central issue on the public agenda ahead of the upcoming general elections.