Honduras News Archives: Politics in Honduras

Honduras Takes Leave of ALBA

News on January 13, 2010 by Administrator| Comments Off

The National Congress of Honduras ratified departure from the Bolivian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA).

The executive decree sent by President Roberto Micheletti was ratified by the majority of Congress with 128 votes in favor, and five not in favor, those being members of the Democratic Unification Party (UD) and the Innovation and Unity Party. Micheletti spoke of leaving ALBA in a Cabinet meeting held on December 15th, and the next day sent a decree to Congress for ratification.

The presidential minister, Rafael Pineda, said the withdrawal does not mean suspending the ALBA trade relations with the countries of this initiative, led by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez. The relations will continue with Petrocaribe, an alliance that allowed the administration of Manuel Zelaya to buy fuel on credit from Venezuela in exchange for cooperation in various social projects. The decision to withdraw from ALBA was made because “some countries of that organization have not been respectful (toward Honduras) in treatment that befits a country,” said Pineda. Venezuela “threatened to invade Honduras” after the removal of Zelaya, he stated.

Politicians and businesspersons in 2008 opposed the accession of Honduras to ALBA on the grounds that Zelaya was leading the country into “socialism of the XXI century” that promotes Chavez.

The member countries of ALBA, like most of the international community, do not recognize the interim government, nor the elections held November 29th that voted in Porfirio Lobo of the National Party.

Membership in ALBA was ratified on October 9th last year by the Honduran Parliament, then headed by Micheletti. ALBA’s members include Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Honduras joined ALBA on August 25, 2008.

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Foreign Countries Will Attend Inauguration

News on January 12, 2010 by Administrator| 1 Comment

At least 19 countries will send delegations to the presidential handover, as a token of appreciation to the new government, said President Roberto Micheletti.

“We understand that there are 19 countries that are willing to recognize the government of Pepe Lobo, and presidents and vice presidents will come,” Micheletti said, without specifying which nations.

11 countries are known to support the administration of President-elect Porfirio Lobo Sosa, including the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Peru and Panama, among others. The government of Colombia only just ratified the sending of a delegation headed by Vice President Francisco Santos.

The act of the presidential handover will cost 23 million Lempiras, said Finance Minister Gabriela Nunez. “For the inauguration, some 22 or 23 million will be used to perform the various logistical activities,” she said. Funds will be used to meet foreign delegations attending the event, scheduled for January 27th at the National Stadium, as well as payment for airfare, lodging, and meals. The number of persons from abroad who will attend the event has not yet been confirmed.

The elected president Porfirio Lobo Sosa pledged that the gala will be held with austerity, given the difficult economic situation in the country.

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Congress to Discuss Amnesty

News on January 11, 2010 by Administrator| Comments Off

The National Congress will meet today to discuss the general amnesty bill that seeks to end the political crisis and initiate a national reconciliation process.

Members of a special committee addressing the issue announced that the project will be presented to Congress members at a meeting this afternoon, and probably be referred to an opinion committee, which will submit its report on the last session held this week.

In these last sessions before the close of the fourth and final term, the legislature will discuss three items. According to its president, Jose Alfredo Saavedra, those items will be amnesty, membership in Alba (Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America), and a toll collection in Tegucigalpa.

The issue that has attracted the most attention is the granting of amnesty. It is thought to be the “epilogue” to the political crisis resulting from the ousting of former President Zelaya. Zelaya would have the option of leaving or staying in the Brazilian embassy after the approval amnesty, according to the president-elect, Porfirio Lobo Sosa. Mr. Sosa was the one who introduced the issue to Congress. Civil society representatives were called on Friday to submit an opinion.

The head of the National Party caucus in Congress, Rodolfo Irias Navas, believes the amnesty decree will be approved. “Amnesty will undoubtedly benefit all. Some people think that it is focused on certain sectors, and this is totally false. Here all the people involved in the activities of June 28th will benefit,” he said.

The Nationalist politician said certain acts have nothing to do with the amnesty bill, so there should be no concern that those crimes go unpunished. “I reject that amnesty is impunity. This bill has been so well-developed that the draft decree clearly defines what crimes are covered,” he said.

Those include, amongst others, crimes of treason against the government, terrorism, sedition, demonstrations, and violent crimes committed by officials, such as abuse of authority. Furthermore, the expatriation of Zelaya by the military that captured him on June 28th last year.

Irias Navas read part of the decree that says, “falling under this decree are all actions which constitute crimes related to corruption, misappropriation of public funds, illicit enrichment, and others”.

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