National News

Attorneys for Luis Redondo, the former president of Honduras's National Congress, have formally asked prosecutors to provide the complete investigative file — covering alleged abuse of authority and other offenses — before their client gives a statement, arguing he cannot mount a defense without knowing the charges against him.

Liberal congresswoman Iroshka Elvir introduced a bill modeled on El Salvador's Bukele security strategy that would build a supermax prison for gang and criminal organization members, citing a worsening violence crisis.

A lawmaker has proposed forgiving Fundaniquem's electricity debt of L 5.46 million (about $218,000), saying the country's only specialized burn-rehabilitation center for children should not bear arrears left by past administrations.

Honduras's Congress unanimously approved a resolution committing to greater transparency, including salary deductions for unexcused absences, restrictions on members of Congress handling social-aid funds, and permanent accreditation for civil-society monitors from groups like the ASJ and CNA to observe legislative sessions.

Honduras's Health Ministry confirmed a third fatality linked to New World screwworm and warned of a rising number of cases across the country.

The Banco Central de Honduras allocated $103.5 million in its May 26 foreign-exchange auction, setting a weighted average exchange rate of L 26.6526 per dollar for May 27.

Amid rising violence, a former police-vetting commissioner and Security Secretary Gerzon Velásquez are calling for rigorous evaluation of police, prosecutors, and judges to root out criminal ties and effectively combat crime in Honduras.

Labor Minister Fernando Puerto confirmed no changes to the law requiring employers to pay Honduras's annual 14th-month salary bonus at any point during June 2026, with workers able to file a complaint with the Labor Ministry if payment is not made.

The Banco Central de Honduras auctioned $93.6 million on May 25, yielding a weighted average exchange rate of L26.6543 per U.S. dollar for May 26, 2026.

Honduras's net international reserves accumulated $1.16 billion between January 27 and May 22, 2026, maintaining import coverage of 6.6 months, the Central Bank reported.

Twenty judges, magistrates, and court staff from eight Honduran cities completed a UN-backed trainer program on gender and intersectionality, now mandatory in the Judicial School curriculum, aimed at aligning the justice system with international human-rights standards.

The government unveiled a 1.5-billion-lempira (roughly $60 million) incentive program targeting more than 300,000 corn, bean, coffee, and cattle farmers nationwide, with a drought-contingency plan and increased municipal transfers to help communities hardest hit by dry conditions.

The Central Bank's weekly report for May 15–21 shows net international reserves continuing to build — driven by remittances and strong export performance — with Honduras already meeting the liquid-reserve target set for June 2026 under its IMF agreement, despite a modest weekly dip tied to external debt payments.

President Nasry Asfura outlined a broad set of government measures including a nationwide smart-meter rollout to cut ENEE losses, debt-relief legislation for electricity customers, drought aid for up to 90 municipalities, higher municipal transfers, and over L 1.1 billion (roughly $44 million) in flood-mitigation works.

Honduras has mobilized a $70 million humanitarian assistance plan, coordinated with the UN and COPECO, to support roughly 800,000 people affected by drought across the country.

Honduras's National Anti-Corruption Council accused former OABI director Marco Antonio Zelaya of fraudulent administration over irregularities in a L 26 million (about $1 million) loan to a company under state custody, bypassing required feasibility studies and budget rules.

President Nasry Asfura's government has removed attorney Elizabeth Rodríguez as director of the Office for Administration of Seized Assets (OABI), reassigning her to handle sexual-exploitation issues, with Jorge Cálix set to take over the agency.

The Catholic Diocese of Yoro issued a formal statement condemning a surge in massacres across Honduras and demanding urgent government action, warning that silence would normalize the treatment of human life as disposable.

Honduras's Congress approved a deadline extension on a contract between the National Penitentiary Institute and a private firm to complete the supply and installation of body and object X-ray scanners at prisons nationwide.

A proposal in Congress would fund five new heavy-vehicle training and licensing centers across Honduras, addressing a shortage that currently limits such certification to one department.

Attorney José Barahona is demanding criminal charges against former Supreme Court President Rebeca Ráquel and two other ex-officials, alleging they conspired to file a false prosecution against his daughter, the late magistrate Miriam Barahona, which he says blocked her from receiving medical treatment for the illness that killed her.

Liberal Party congressman Salomón Nazar has introduced legislation to create a protected-identity program for judges and court staff handling organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism cases, with safeguards requiring court approval and preserving due-process rights.

Congressional Secretary Carlos Ledezma delivered all impeachment records to the Public Prosecutor's office, which will decide whether to formally charge the five officials — including former Attorney General Johel Zelaya and two electoral tribunal members — removed from office in Honduras's first-ever impeachment proceedings earlier this year.

At a press conference, President Nasry Asfura said his administration is working to cut losses at the state power utility ENEE, while revealing that the US government is funding a feasibility study for an interoceanic corridor and dry port between Puerto Cortés and La Barca.

Honduras's state utility ENEE announced planned outages for May 23 affecting circuits in the Francisco Morazán department due to scheduled maintenance work.

Congress approved penal code changes on May 18 that formally classify gangs and drug-trafficking networks as terrorist associations, but legal experts and human-rights groups warn the expanded, vague wording could be used against protesters and social movements.

Forecasters project Honduras's rainy season will begin in May but with a slight delay compared to the historical norm.

The National Party government is proposing to use private hospital capacity to reduce a public surgery waiting list, drawing warnings from medical leaders that the measure could lead to broader health privatization.

Attorney General Johel Zelaya removed Luis Javier Santos from leading the anti-corruption unit Uferco, reassigning him to a training school, a move former prosecutors warn weakens Honduras's fight against corruption and may serve political interests.

The National Autonomous University of Honduras inaugurated the ATLA (Aula Tecnológica Líder en Avances y Saber) classroom, described as the country's first higher-education facility equipped with artificial intelligence technology.