Honduran Presidential Candidates Pledge to Respect Final Election Results

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Nov. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández and fellow presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla signed formal pledges with the Organization of American States to respect the official, final results of the November 26 presidential election.

"We must respect the will of the Honduran people," President Hernández said. "They are the ones who voted, and we must respect their choice in this election."

In identical agreements, President Hernández and Mr. Nasralla "promise to accept the results of the final, general count of the votes for president by TSE [Honduras's Supreme Electoral Tribune] …in order to guarantee respect for the will of all Honduran citizens who cast their vote last Sunday."

The agreements also called on Hondurans to "wait calmly and peacefully for the votes from this past November 26 to be counted."

In a statement printed in Honduran outlet La Tribuna following the signing of the pledges, the head of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Honduras, former Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga, called the agreement "valuable and remarkable." He added that "it will help the Honduran people maintain peace and security."

Quiroga also asked both candidates to wait for the TSE to release the final results. "Let the ballots speak, let the votes be counted," he said.

OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro also commented on the agreement, tweeting that OAS "salutes the commitment of the candidates @JuanOrlandoH and @SalvadorAlianza that gives a sign of civility #HonduranElection @OASinHonduras."

Earlier this week, Honduran National Commissioner for Human Rights Roberto Herrera Cáceres called for the "expression of the sovereign will of the people to be respected," and asked all parties to maintain public order during the vote count.

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SOURCE Republic of Honduras