Left set for comeback as Xiomara Castro leads in Honduras election

BOGOTA, Colombia

Leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro seems on course to become the first woman to lead Honduras, with preliminary results showing she has a clear lead after Sunday’s presidential election.

With just about half of the votes tallied, Castro, wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, had over 53.5% of the votes, well ahead of conservative ruling party contender Nasry Asfura’s 34%, according to the National Electoral Council.

Yani Rosenthal of the Liberal Party was in third spot with 9.25%, while the overall turnout was more than 68%, the council said.

Victory for Castro will bring the left to power in Honduras for the first time since 2009, when her husband was ousted in a coup.

Once finalized and confirmed by the electoral authority, the winner of the presidential election is scheduled to start a four-year term in January 2022.

*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk