A few things to know about the Honduran election

Elvin Santos and Porfirio Lobo / DR

Just in time before Honduras vote: a short presentation of the election. Here are five things you should know about it.

– It is a general election. Not only the new president will be elected, but also Central American representatives, the 128 MPs and 298 city councils. So that the whole political landscape of Honduras will be determined by this election.

– The Honduras crisis became a political crisis on the whole continent as Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and the ALBA already said they would not recognize the election, and the USA, Peru and Costa Rica said they would.

– The election is not the result of the coup, it was provided and according to the constitution, President Manuel Zelaya could not stand again. Last year he wanted to change the rule so that he could be candidate and it was one of the reasons of the coup.

– Manuel Zelaya’s party exploded with the crisis. His supporters ask for a boycott of the election and said they would not recognize the new president. But a part of the Liberal party chose to follow the former vice President Elvin Santos, who ranks second according to the polls.

– The favorite to win is the right wing candidate Porfirio Lobo, 61. He was defeated by Manuel Zelaya during the 2005 election and supported the coup of Roberto Micheletti. As an agricultural landowner, he has built a strong relationship with American investors (the first investors in Honduras, through the fruit giant Chiquita (ex United Fruit Company). He also studied in Miami. Three other candidates will run: Bernard Martinez (Innovation and Unity Party), Felicito Avila (Christian Democrat Party) and Cesar Ham (Unification Party) but they seem to have very few opportunities to play some role.

* Today another Latin American country vote for its president. Uruguay will have to chose between Lacalle and Mujica, who is said to be the favorite. More information.