Honduran television presenter Salvador Nasralla widened a narrow lead Wednesday over Trump-backed rival Nasry Asfura as the counting of votes cast in a weekend presidential election dragged into a third day.
With nearly 80 per cent of the count from Sunday’s voting completed, Nasralla was leading fellow right-winger Asfura with 40.34 per cent to 39.57 per cent, according to the CNE election council.
The CNE has come under fire from US President Donald Trump after announcing Monday that a partial count showed the two men locked in a “technical tie”.
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Trump accused Honduran election officials of “trying to change” the outcome of the vote in one of Latin America’s most impoverished and violent countries and vowed “there will be hell to pay!” if they do.
The CNE called for “patience” as it finishes the count delayed by technical difficulties, and vowed Tuesday the result will “scrupulously respect the popular will”.
Trump had given his support to 67-year-old businessman Asfura, vying for the top job with 72-year-old Nasralla, who the US leader has said was “pretending to be an anti-Communist”.