TEGUCIGALPA.— The head of the National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA) in Honduras, Gabriela Castellanos, demanded on September 4, 2024 the resignation of the Honduran President Xiomara Castrofollowing the disclosure of a Video of a meeting held in 2013 between his brother-in-law, Carlos Zelaya, and drug traffickers, in which contributions to the campaign of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre) were discussed.
Gabriela Castellano published a letter on her social media in which she formally requests the “resignation” of Xiomara Castro as president of the country.
“This request is based on the serious drug trafficking accusations that have been brought against the family environment, whom you have appointed to structure the State in the different secretariats, clearly collapsed by organized crime,” the official said in her letter.
“This constitutes a serious violation of public trust and of the ethical principles that should govern the performance of any public servant,” the document adds.
He stressed that “ignoring these links and attack others who are pointed out, cAs a desperate measure to discredit these serious accusations, it will not make citizens forget that we are still in a narco-state, with leaders who have come to power using the money of the racketeering and have benefited from those who currently administer justice,” he said.
Scandal in Honduras over drug trafficking video: links to Xiomara Castro
This is the video that caused a scandal in Honduras due to Xiomara Castro’s alleged links to drug traffickers:
The director of the anti-corruption agency stated that Xiomara Castro’s permanence as president of Honduras “not only undermines the credibility of the rule of lawbut rather It also disturbs the peace and the safety of the population.”
For this reason, he added, “his resignation is a duty to restore integrity and political morality in the public service of Honduras.”
According to a report and video by the U.S. non-governmental organization InSight Crime (Organized Crime in the Americas), released Tuesday by the local Honduran press, Carlos Zelaya, brother-in-law of President Castro and brother of former President Manuel Zelaya, met in November 2013 with drug traffickers who offered to donate more than $500,000 to the Libre party campaign.
Carlos Zelaya admitted last Saturday that he met with drug traffickers He was offered contributions for the Libre Party campaign, although he denied having received money, and announced his resignation as secretary and deputy of the Honduran Parliament.
Regarding the video of the meeting in 2013, the president said on Tuesday night: “I condemn all types of negotiations between drug traffickers and politicians.”
Honduran president called for resignation over drug trafficking video
Xiomara Castro also denounced the existence of a plan aimed at “destroying” her government and “dealing a new coup d’état.”
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“The plan to destroy my socialist, democratic government and the upcoming electoral process is underway; the same dark internal and external forces of 2009, with the complicity of the national and international corporate media, are reorganizing in our country to carry out a new coup d’état, which the people must repel,” he emphasized.
Xiomara Castro also said that she will not allow the current treaty with the United States to be “selectively exploited to dismantle the Armed Forces, overthrow my Government and destroy the elections” that the country will hold in 2025.
The Honduran president last Wednesday “terminated” the extradition treaty with the United States, amid diplomatic tension with the U.S. Ambassador to Tegucigalpa, Laura Dogu, for criticizing a recent meeting of Honduran authorities with sanctioned Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
The Honduran government revealed on radio and television a list of politicians facing legal charges for drug trafficking in the United States, most of them from the National Party, the main opposition force.
Former President “Self-coup”
Former President Porfirio Lobo warned about the possibility of a “self-coup” in Honduras.
Lobo, who governed from 2010 to 2014, also reiterated that he has not received money from drug trafficking, after the government released a list that includes politicians allegedly involved in drug trafficking cases. drug trafficking.
The leaders of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre) “are desperate,” stressed Lobo, who assured that there will be “coups (d’état), but they may carry them out themselves (to stay (in power).”
Lobo insisted that he has “not the slightest doubt” that the Free Party “will seek to remain in power” in the Central American country.
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2024-09-21 20:51:27
