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National Party of Honduras

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National Party of Honduras
Partido Nacional de Honduras
AbbreviationPNH
PresidentNasry Asfura
Secretary-GeneralTomas Zambrano
Founded27 February 1902; 121 years ago
HeadquartersComayagüela
Youth wingNationalist Youth (Juventud Nacionalista)
IdeologyNationalism
Conservatism
Christian democracy[1]
Political positionCentre-right[5] to right-wing[8]
International affiliationCentrist Democrat International (observer)
International Democracy Union (formerly)
Regional affiliationUnion of Latin American Parties
Christian Democrat Organization of America
Colours  Blue
Anthem
"Estandartes Azules"[9]
"Blue Guidons"
National Congress
49 / 128
Election symbol
Seal of the National Party of Honduras
Party flag
Website
www.partidonacional.hn

The National Party of Honduras (PNH; Spanish: Partido Nacional de Honduras) is a conservative political party in Honduras founded on 27 February 1902, by Manuel Bonilla Chirinos. Historically, it has been one of the two most influential parties in the country. The party's platform is based on Christian humanist doctrine,[1] and its five main principles are common wealth, dignity of the human person, equality, solidarity and subsidiarity.

Since the foundation of the National Party, Honduras has had 14 PNH presidents. Manuel Bonilla was the first (1903–1907), and the most recent president is Nasry Asfura, who will serve in 2026. The party was the ruling directive of the National Congress from 2009 to 2022 and currently holds mayoralties of most of the country's municipalities.[10]

History

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The ideology of the party can be traced back to national hero José Trinidad Cabañas's principles and thinking. Cabañas believed in a strong sense of patriotism and that national interest took precedence over all other interests. Moreover, in the late 1800s, actors such as Ponciano Leiva and Luis Bogran made efforts to establish an institution which reflected their ideology.[11]

The Progressive Party, led by Ponciano Leiva, joined forces by a movement led by General Manuel Bonilla. On 27 February 1902, in Tegucigalpa, both parties united to form the National Convention, backed by 40,000 signatures from supporters. That event was the birth of the National Party of Honduras.[12]

Symbols

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Seal

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Fraternity, equality and justice are reflected in the official seal. Holding arms represent fraternity among Honduran citizens. The scale represents equality between men and women. The burning torch shines defending those in need. The seal also states the party's motto: Social Justice with Liberty and Democracy.[citation needed]

Organic structure

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  1. National Convention: Made up from Municipal, State, Regional and national authorities.
  2. Permanent Commission: Permanent members of the National Convention
  3. National Committee: Political Commission, Justice Party, Financial and Budget Administration, Political and Ideological Formation
  4. State Committee: Conformed by the authorities of each of the 18 departments in Honduras
  5. Local Committee: Counts with Municipal Representation

Electoral history

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Presidential elections

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Election Party candidate Votes % Result
1902 Manuel Bonilla 28,550 48.7% Elected Green tickY
1916 Francisco Bertrand 77,832 100%
1923 Tiburcio Carías Andino 49,541 47.1%
1924 Miguel Paz Barahona 72,021 99%
1928 Tiburcio Carías Andino 47,745 43.38% Lost Red XN
1932 Tiburcio Carías Andino 81,211 Elected Green tickY
1936 Tiburcio Carías Andino Elected by Constituent Assembly Green tickY
1939 Tiburcio Carías Andino Elected by Congress Green tickY
1948 Juan Manuel Gálvez 254,802 99.85% Elected Green tickY
1954 Tiburcio Carías Andino 77,726 30.85% Lost Red XN
1971 Ramón Ernesto Cruz Uclés 299,807 49.28% Elected Green tickY
1981 Ricardo Zuñiga 491,089 40.43% Lost Red XN
1985 Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero 701,406 45.49%
1989 Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero 916,131 52.29% Elected Green tickY
1993 Oswaldo Ramos Soto 735,123 42.97% Lost Red XN
1997 Nora Gúnera de Melgar 844,985 42.76%
2001 Ricardo Maduro 1,135,565 52.22% Elected Green tickY
2005 Porfirio Lobo Sosa 925,243 42.15% Lost Red XN
2009 Porfirio Lobo Sosa 1,212,846 56.56% Elected Green tickY
2013 Juan Orlando Hernández 1,149,302 36.89%
2017 Juan Orlando Hernández 1,410,888 42.95%
2021 Nasry Asfura 1,240,260 36.93% Lost Red XN
2025 Nasry Asfura 1,481,517 40.26% Elected Green tickY

National Congress elections

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Election Votes % Seats +/– Position
1923
15 / 48
 Increase 15 Increase 2nd
1924
46 / 46
 Increase 31 Increase 1st
1926
36 / 46
 Decrease 10
1928
26 / 48
 Decrease 10
1930
23 / 48
 Decrease 3
1932
43 / 56
 Increase 20
1934
55 / 59
 Increase 12
1936 132,948 99.99%
59 / 59
 Increase 4
1942
45 / 45
 Decrease 14
1948 254,802 99.85%
49 / 49
 Increase 4
1954 77,726 30.85%
23 / 59
 Decrease 26 Decrease 2nd
1956 2,003 00.48%
0 / 58
 Decrease 23 Decrease 3rd
1957 98,088 29.57%
18 / 58
 Increase 18 Increase 2nd
1965 334,646 55.15%
35 / 64
 Increase 17 Increase 1st
1971 299,807 52.62%
32 / 64
 Decrease 3
1980 423,623 44.15%
33 / 71
 Increase 1 Decrease 2nd
1981 491,089 41.6%
34 / 82
 Increase 1
1985 701,406 45.49%
63 / 134
 Increase 29
1989 916,131 52.29%
76 / 128
 Increase 13 Increase 1st
1993 735,123 42.97%
55 / 128
 Decrease 21 Decrease 2nd
1997 844,985 42.76%
55 / 128
 Steady
2001 967,733 46.46%
61 / 128
 Increase 6 Increase 1st
2005 6,983,056 40.42%
55 / 128
 Decrease 6 Decrease 2nd
2009 8,561,577 53.37%
71 / 128
 Increase 16 Increase 1st
2013 9,255,904 33.64%
48 / 128
 Decrease 23
2017 47.66%
61 / 128
 Increase 13
2021 9,573,029 30.18%
44 / 128
 Decrease 17 Decrease 2nd
2025 7,138,761 35.29%
49 / 128
 Increase 5 Increase 1st

Controversies

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The National Party has been involved in the last few years on several issues of corruption. In 2015, it was discovered that the National Party was using money from the Honduran Social Security in order to finance the campaign of President Juan Orlando Hernandez through an elaborate scheme of companies redirecting Social Security funds to the party.[13] After the scheme was discovered, the President said the money should be returned by the party.[14]

Former President Porfirio Lobo was accused in March 2017 by the New York's DA office for helping protect drug organizations.[15]

In April 2022, former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who served two terms between 2014 and January 2022, was extradited to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.[16] In March of 2024, a federal jury returned three guilty verdicts against Hernandez and, in June, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison.[17] He was pardoned by U.S. president Donald Trump in 2025.

Party leaders

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List of Presidents

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President of the National Party
President(e/a) del Partido Nacional
Incumbent
Nasry Asfura
since 24 May 2025
FormationUnknown
First holderUnknown
No. President
(Birth–Death) 		Term of Office Notes
1 David Chávez
(born 1982)

23 May 2021 24 May 2025
2 Nasry Asfura
(born 1958)

24 May 2025 Incumbent Incumbent

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Declaration of Principles" (PDF). www.tse.hn (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Honduras: Background and U.S. Relations". Congressional Research Service. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2021. Honduras's traditional two-party political system, dominated by the Liberal (Partido Liberal, PL) and National (Partido Nacional, PN) Parties, has fractured over the past decade. Both traditional parties are considered to be ideologically center-right, and political competition between them generally has been focused more on using the public sector for patronage than on implementing programmatic agendas.
  3. ^ "Factbox: Proposals of main parties in Honduras presidential election". Reuters. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2021 – via www.reuters.com.
  4. ^ "Honduras election: Army given more powers to quash unrest". BBC News. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  5. ^ [2][3][4]
  6. ^ Schepers, Emile (20 December 2017). "Honduras still in turmoil after election results; right-wing consolidates coup". People's World. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Postcard from Honduras: On the Eve of the Election". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  8. ^ [6][7]
  9. ^ "Declaration of Principles" (PDF). www.tse.hn (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2022. El Himno del Partido es el denominado ESTANDARTES AZULES y debe ejecutarse en todos los actos políticos oficiales del partido.
  10. ^ "Tribunal Supremo Electoral". siede.tse.hn. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Los 112 años de Fundación del Partido Nacional de Honduras". LaTribuna.hn. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  12. ^ ""Historia de Nuestro Partido"". PartidoNacional.hn. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  13. ^ Lakhani, Nina (10 June 2015). "How hitmen and high living lifted lid on looting of Honduran healthcare system". the Guardian.
  14. ^ "JOH: Partido Nacional de Honduras debe devolver fondos al IHSS". Diario El Heraldo.
  15. ^ "Ligan a Porfirio Lobo con narco". 19 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Juan Orlando Hernández: Honduran ex-leader extradited to US". BBC News. 21 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Juan Orlando Hernandez, Former President Of Honduras, Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Conspiring To Distribute More Than 400 Tons Of Cocaine And Related Firearms Offenses". U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
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