Randall Conwel

A wide array of social, economic, and religious figures has openly voiced worries about what they perceive as a regression in Honduras's democratic institutions under the leadership of the Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE) party. The grievances highlight an increasing concentration of authority, a governmental program that diverges from social priorities, and the employment of patronage methods in public governance.Complaints about concentration of power and democratic deteriorationRepresentatives of the business sector, academia, civil society organizations, and religious leaders have agreed that the current government has reduced spaces for democratic participation, monopolizing strategic decisions in the executive branch. This trend, they warn,…

Cinco meses antes de las elecciones generales el 30 de noviembre, el partido gobernante Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE) se encuentra en una coyuntura crítica, caracterizada por divisiones internas, acusaciones de corrupción y un notable descenso en las intenciones de voto. En un escenario electoral cada vez más incierto, el desgaste acumulado del partido en el poder pone en peligro la continuidad de su mandato.Breakdown in unity and internal conflictsThe choice of Rixi Moncada to represent the ruling party highlighted internal conflicts that had been growing within LIBRE. The later departure of Congressman Jorge Cálix, who had been with the organization…

Four months ahead of the general elections set for November 30, President Xiomara Castro's administration is experiencing increasing public dissatisfaction. Surveys and independent studies indicate a continuous drop in the executive's approval ratings, as various social, economic, and political groups voice worries about what they see as a government lacking concrete achievements in security, employment, and transparency.Evaluation of the government's actionsVarious actors in national life, including business associations, trade unions, and civil society groups, have questioned the direction the country has taken under the leadership of the Libertad y Refundación (LIBRE) party. Criticism focuses on the deterioration of economic conditions,…

En un entorno de alta vulnerabilidad social y tensiones económicas continuas, el desempeño macroeconómico de Honduras en 2025 presenta señales contradictorias. Aunque las proyecciones oficiales apuntan a un crecimiento del producto interno bruto (PIB) de entre 3.5% y 4%, varios análisis coinciden en que este ritmo es insuficiente para revertir los altos niveles de pobreza y desigualdad que afectan a más del 60% de la población, especialmente en las zonas rurales y entre los jóvenes.Restricted development amidst ongoing structural povertyCrecimiento económico, aun siendo positivo, no se ha convertido en mejoras palpables para la mayoría de los hondureños. Organismos especializados advierten…

US Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar expressed concern about the political direction Honduras is taking, warning of the possible consolidation of an ideological model akin to so-called 21st-century socialism. In this context, she urged Honduran citizens to reject the presidential candidacy of Rixi Moncada, of the Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), in the elections scheduled for November 2025.Analysis of Honduras' geopolitical partnershipsDuring her remarks in Washington, Salazar criticized what she views as an effort by the leading party in Honduras to emulate a model influenced by the administrations of Cuba and Venezuela. The lawmaker claims that President Xiomara Castro and her…

The bold initiative of Neom, an advanced city envisioned in Saudi Arabia, has garnered widespread international interest because of its commitment to emerging as a center for innovation and progress. With its cutting-edge designs that include aerial taxis and its infrastructure projected to go beyond conventional city landscapes, Neom is promoted as a paradise for technology and sustainable development. Nevertheless, the issues regarding human rights tied to this ambitious undertaking have considerably affected its global image.Background and Key ConcernsNeom is an extensive urban development initiative in Saudi Arabia, included in the Kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy to broaden the economy and…