LI: Honduran elections were free and fair and should be recognized
Chief electoral observer for Liberal International in Honduras, Roger Albinyana from Convergencia, Catalunya, Spain, has concluded that the presidential elections were free and fair.The turn-out was approximately 60% which is, given the 54% four years ago, a strong sign of the commitment of the voters to make a difference in these crucial elections. The elections were held in a peaceful manner. Except for some violence between Zelaya supporters, who wanted to disturb the election process, and riot police in San Pedro Sula, the second largest city in the country, no incidents of any significance were reported. Pepe Lobo of the conservative National Party won the elections by approximately 52% against 38% for Elvin Santos, the candidate for the Liberal Party. The Electoral Tribunal was able to certify that the elections were conducted according to the law. Roger Albinyana toured the capital and the country and also received input from other, local and regional, LI observers and LI cooperating organization, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.
LI President Hans van Baalen MEP, who led an LI delegation to Central America and to Honduras earlier this month, called on the international community and LI member parties to recognize the outcome of the elections and support President Elect Pepe Lobo who will be inaugurated at the end of January. Van Baalen paid credit to both acting President Roberto Micheletti and PLH presidential candidate Elvin Santos. Micheletti guaranteed that Honduras can return to the Constitutional order in January and has done great service to his country. Micheletti who is a vice president of Liberal International will be invited to play an active role within LI and its Latin American Network RELIAL. Santos fought a fair campaign which will make it possible for Honduras to re-unite which is applauded by LI. Van Baalen asked former president Zelaya to accept the legality and political significance of the elections and to recognize the outcome. In the coming days and weeks Van Baalen will try to create a majority in the European Parliament to recognize Lobo as new president of Honduras.
