Despite the political and ideological differences between the governments of Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernández, both have faced similar challenges in terms of corruption, links to organized crime, and difficulties in ensuring institutional transparency, highlighting the continuity of questionable practices in the country.
Challenges in anti-corruption systems
During the administration of Hernández, the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH), endorsed by the OAS, was terminated in 2020, creating considerable voids in probing and sanctioning misconduct. Simultaneously, Xiomara Castro’s government has pushed for the establishment of the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), which is currently overseen by the Public Ministry, lacking adequate authority to successfully pursue corruption cases. These constraints demonstrate a systemic issue that obstructs institutional efforts to tackle administrative and financial misconduct.
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.
Transparency and management of public funds
The Hernández regime was characterized by centralized and secretive management of state information. Although to a lesser extent, the Castro administration has also faced criticism for deficiencies in the control and execution of public funds, affecting transparency and accountability. Recent allegations of illicit campaign financing and the dissemination of so-called “narcovideos” show that problems of oversight and control remain.
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.
Inherited challenges and continuity of practices
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 study contrasting the two governments reveals that, despite their differing rhetoric and ideologies, the fundamental issues of corruption, organized crime, and shortcomings in transparency persist. People note that the vowed transformations have not been completely established, sustaining challenges in governance and confidence in institutions in Honduras.
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