International News: Hondurans lose Faith in President amid scandals and Extradition Treaty termination

Posted: Saturday, September 7, 2024. 2:36 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Hondurans are growing disillusioned with President Xiomara Castro as a series of scandals and a recent policy shift fuel suspicions of corruption.

According to the Associated Press, Castro, who was elected in 2021 as Honduras’ first female president with a promise to combat corruption and bring change, is facing mounting criticism following an admission by her brother-in-law, Carlos Zelaya.

Zelaya, a member of Castro’s Libre party and the brother of former President Manuel Zelaya, admitted to meeting with a drug trafficker in 2013.

This revelation came as he faced an investigation into alleged drug trafficking links, and he claimed he was unaware of the trafficker’s connections at the time.

The scandal has been exacerbated by Castro’s recent decision to terminate the U.S.-Honduras extradition treaty.

This treaty, in place for over a century, had allowed the extradition of 64 Hondurans, including former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking in the U.S.

Critics argue that ending the treaty could be seen as an effort to protect those connected to Castro’s administration.

The timing of these events has led many Hondurans to question whether Castro’s administration is any different from previous corrupt regimes.

In response to the criticism, Castro announced that her nephew, Defense Minister José Manuel Zelaya Rosales, would resign and be replaced by Rixi Moncada Godoy, a presidential hopeful.

Castro framed the change as a move towards renewed integrity and determination for the country.

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