_-_copia.jpg?w=800&resize=800,500&ssl=1 "Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernández")
Xiomara Castro’s ascension to the presidency was portrayed as a shift from Juan Orlando Hernández’s administration, yet allegations of corruption and connections to organized crime reveal ongoing issues that undermine public trust and emphasize challenges in the strengthening of institutional frameworks.
Vulnerability in systems against corruption
During Hernández’s term, the exit of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) in 2020 undermined the institutional endeavors to tackle corruption. Subsequently, the Castro government has not provided complete autonomy or adequate funding to the International Commission Against Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), which relies on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to pursue legal actions. The ongoing deficiency of autonomy hampers the capacity to address irregularities and bolster anti-corruption entities.
Persistence of organized crime in public contracts
Links to organized crime actors have been reported in both administrations. A recent case involves the Secretariat of Security, which signed contracts worth more than 10 million lempiras with a company linked to money laundering. These types of operations reflect practices detected in the previous regime, demonstrating that the public administration’s exposure to narco-politics risks remains, regardless of the executive’s party affiliation.
Openness and management of government funds
The Hernández administration was noted for its centralized approach and lack of transparency in handling public information. Despite Castro’s push for enhanced accountability, new reports from the Ministry of Transparency reveal shortcomings in both implementing and overseeing public expenditures. The absence of transparent and auditable documentation hinders the assessment of governmental efficiency and reflects patterns akin to those seen in the prior administration.
Justice and institutional setbacks
The ability of the judicial system to punish irregularities has been limited in both administrations. International investigations, such as the “narcovideos” and allegations of illicit financing of political campaigns, have affected the current administration, highlighting the difficulty of curbing practices that compromise institutional integrity. The persistence of irregularities suggests that control structures have not been consolidated, creating an environment conducive to the continuation of corrupt behavior.
The institutional reflection of Honduras
With Hernández detained in the United States on drug trafficking charges and Castro facing scandals that affect his legitimacy, Honduras remains in a situation where rhetoric about change is not fully translated into structural transformations. The current and previous administrations show parallels in institutional vulnerability to corruption, exposure to organized crime networks, and weak transparency and justice mechanisms. This reality poses challenges for governance and citizen participation, while highlighting the need to strengthen institutions in order to consolidate a reliable public system that is resistant to illegal practices.