Xiomara Castro was sworn in before thousands of people and in the presence of Kamala Harris. In the days before there had been a political crisis.
Xiomara Castro during the swearing-in ceremony.
(dpa)
Xiomara Castro is the first woman to be sworn in as President of Honduras. Together with her husband, ex-president Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted from office in 2009, the left-wing politician drove in an open car past cheering crowds into the national stadium in the capital Teguicalpa on Thursday. Before an audience of thousands and in the presence of foreign guests, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, a judge administered the oath of office to Castro.
In the days before, there had been a political crisis in the Central American country. Two rival congress leaders were elected and sworn in – one of them was a breakaway MP from Castro’s Libre party, Jorge Cálix. He was elected by a majority of parliamentarians, including the conservative camp of outgoing President Juan Orlando Hernández.
However, Castro recognized Luis Redondo of the PSH (roughly: Party of Honduras Salvation) as Congress President. As part of her electoral alliance with the PSH, the party of her Vice President Salvador Nasralla, Castro had promised to support Redondo. On the eve of her swearing-in, Castro offered Cálix the post of head of cabinet as a gesture of unity. He promised a speedy reply.
The 62-year-old Castro was the first candidate since the return to democracy in 1982 who did not belong to one of the two established parties – Hernández’s Partido Nacional or the Partido Liberal – to become the country’s head of state and government with around ten million residents have been elected.
Honduras is one of the main countries of origin of migrants who are caught entering the United States from Mexico without permission. Hernández’s brother was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States last March for large-scale drug trafficking. The outgoing president could now also face charges.