The primary election in Honduras, held on Sunday, March 9, was marked by public dissatisfaction as serious failures in distributing election materials, causing delays of up to 16 hours at several polling stations. Amidst growing frustration, evangelical leaders urged the public to remain calm and peaceful as protests erupted over logistical accidents and irregularities in the voting process.
According to CNN EnEspaƱol, long lines were formed early in the morning, protests emerged due to delays in ballot box delivery and the lack of party representatives at the polling station. This obstacle was particularly prominent in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, where voters expressed dissatisfaction with the irregularity of the process.
The Honduras (CEH) Evangelical Fellowship has issued a statement urging Honduras people to remain calm and peaceful following the incident during the primary election. The call comes after reports of fraud and violence raised concerns in various social sectors.
In an official statement, CEH expressed deep concern about the event and urged authorities to ensure a transparent and fair election process. He also called on the public to avoid being provoked by conflict and obstacles.
“As a church, I pray that God will control the situation and that all Hongjuran act with prudence and responsibility. This country needs peace and reconciliation in the midst of this political situation,” the organization said.
Evangelical fellowship also encouraged political leaders and candidates to avoid rhetoric that could incite violence and hatred, and to act mature and responsible. He emphasized the importance of promoting national unity and democratic institutions.
Furthermore, evangelical organizations reaffirmed their commitment to continue Honduras’ intervention, prayed for a peaceful solution, and encouraged the country’s evangelical churches to unite to prevent actions that threaten social stability.
The statement emphasized that citizens have the right to actively participate in the democratic process, but should always be done within a respectful and polite framework. “As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and act wisely in times of crisis,” CEH emphasized.
Honduras citizens took part in the primary election and selected candidates for three major political parties to compete for the presidency in November next year. The country is deeply polarized, with growing skepticism towards both the left and right leaders, and is struggling to make significant progress in improving security and economics.
Several evangelical leaders in Hongjuran support the call for evangelical fellowship, emphasizing the need for deep reflection on peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. Meanwhile, Christian communities continue to promote prayer days for stability and national reconciliation.
The Latin American Evangelical Alliance (AEL) expressed support for the CEH statement, showing solidarity with the Honduras people, and encouraged congregations across the region to participate in prayer for the Central American nation.
It was originally published by Diario Cristiano, the Spanish version of Christian Daily International.