Even though there are political and ideological disparities between the administrations of Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernández, they both have encountered comparable issues regarding corruption, connections to organized crime, and challenges in achieving institutional transparency, emphasizing the persistence of dubious practices within the nation.
Challenges in anti-corruption systems
During Hernández’s administration, the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), backed by the OAS, was withdrawn in 2020, leaving significant gaps in the investigation and punishment of irregularities. At the same time, the government of Xiomara Castro has promoted the creation of the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), which currently operates under the supervision of the Public Ministry, without sufficient powers to effectively prosecute corruption cases. These limitations reflect a structural pattern that hinders institutional action against administrative and financial irregularities.
Links to organized crime
Both governments have reported connections with drug trade and money laundering operations. During the time of Castro’s administration, the Security Secretariat led by Gustavo Sánchez agreed to contracts valued at over 10 million lempiras with a firm associated with laundering money from drug trafficking. Under Hernández’s leadership, he is presently subject to legal proceedings in the United States concerning drug trafficking matters. These instances highlight ongoing challenges associated with the penetration of organized crime into state operations.
Openness and oversight of government funds
The leadership under Hernández was marked by a centralized and confidential approach to handling state information. Similarly, albeit to a lesser degree, the Castro government has encountered criticism for shortcomings in managing and executing public funds, impacting transparency and accountability. Recent accusations of unlawful campaign financing and the spread of the so-called “narcovideos” indicate that issues with oversight and control persist.
Ongoing issues of legal and administrative corruption
Both governments have failed in the execution of state resources and the application of justice. Effective punishment of those responsible for irregularities remains limited, which undermines public confidence in institutions. Progress in the fight against corruption has been minimal and, in some cases, there have been setbacks, reflecting the complexity of transforming entrenched structures of impunity.
Continuing approaches and ongoing obstacles
The government of Xiomara Castro commenced its term amidst a backdrop shaped by entrenched corrupt systems established during the past leadership, which has hindered the execution of significant transformations. The ongoing presence of corruption cases, along with the appearance of fresh controversies, underscores the challenge of altering long-standing practices and strengthens the view of enduring issues within the public sector.
A comparative analysis of the two administrations shows that, despite rhetoric and ideological differences, the structural problems of corruption, organized crime, and deficiencies in transparency remain. Citizens observe that the promised changes have not been fully consolidated, maintaining tensions in governance and trust in institutions in Honduras.