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Nasry Asfura

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Nasry Asfura
Asfura in 2026
President of Honduras
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 January 2026
Vice President
Preceded byXiomara Castro
Minister of Health
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 January 2026
PresidentHimself
Preceded byCarla Paredes
President of the National Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 May 2025
Vice PresidentMaría Antonieta Mejía
Preceded byDavid Chávez
Mayor of Tegucigalpa
In office
25 January 2014 – 25 January 2022
Vice MayorJuan García
Preceded byRicardo Álvarez Arias
Succeeded byJorge Aldana
Additional offices
Member of the
National Congress of Honduras
for Francisco Morazán
In office
25 January 2010 – 25 January 2014
Director of the Honduran Social Investment Fund
In office
25 January 2010 – 10 September 2011
PresidentPorfirio Lobo Sosa
Preceded byCarlos Banegas
Succeeded byGunther von Wiese
Councilman of Tegucigalpa
In office
2006–2010
Personal details
BornNasry Juan Asfura Zablah
(1958-06-08) 8 June 1958 (age 68)
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
PartyNational
Spouse
​
(m. 1985)​
Children3
EducationNational Autonomous University of Honduras (Incomplete)

Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah (Latin American Spanish: [ˈnasɾi ˈxwan asˈfuɾa saˈbla]; born 8 June 1958) is a Honduran politician and construction businessman serving as the president of Honduras since 2026. A member of the National Party of Honduras (PNH), he previously served as the mayor of Tegucigalpa from 2014 to 2022.[1][2]

In October 2020, an anti-corruption unit of the Public Prosecutor's Office requested criminal prosecution against Asfura, alleging that he was responsible for the embezzlement of 17.4 million lempiras for his own benefit between 2017 and 2018, as well as for other crimes. In June and July of the following year, the request was dismissed by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice.[3] In October 2021, his name appeared in the Pandora Papers.[4]

A construction industry magnate, he previously served as a deputy in the National Congress of Honduras, representing the Francisco Morazán department from 2010 to 2014. Asfura ran in the 2021 presidential election, losing to Xiomara Castro of the Liberty and Refoundation party. After becoming the PNH's party president, he ran and won the 2025 presidential election, narrowly defeating Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party.[5] He was sworn in on 27 January 2026.

Early life and career

[edit]

Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah was born on 8 June 1958 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the son of Nasry Juan Asfura and Gloria Zablah de Asfura.[6][7] His mother Gloria died in 2019, while his father Nasry died before 2015.[7][8] He is the grandson of Christian Palestinian immigrants from Bethlehem, with his paternal grandparents arriving in Honduras in the late 1890s and his maternal grandparents in 1918.[9][10][11] His family nicknamed him affectionately "Tito" from "Nasryto".[12]

Asfura graduated from high school at the San Francisco Institute and studied civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, but quit his course to instead pursue a career in the construction industry.[13][14]

Political career (1990s–2026)

[edit]
Asfura with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, in January 2017

Asfura first became involved in politics and entered into public life in the 1990s. Between 1990 and 1994, served as a municipal tax assistant in the capital, and as an assistant to Mayor Nora Gúnera de Melgar.[15] He was also a member of the administration of the mayors César Castellanos Madrid and Vilma Reyes.[7][12]

In 2005 Asfura participated in the PNH's internal elections as a pre-candidate for mayor of the Central District, but was defeated by Ricardo Álvarez.[16] During those elections, he ended an impromptu radio announcement with the phrase that slipped out of his mouth, "Papi a la orden!" (Daddy at your service!), which became his nickname.[7][12][17] Álvarez became mayor of the capital in the general elections that year, and Asfura became a councilman in his administration.[7]

He ran in the 2009 general election and was elected as a member of the country's National Congress, representing the department of Francisco Morazán. He served in that position from 2010 to 2014, when he left to serve as mayor of Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa. During his tenure as mayor, Asfura became known for his road infrastructure projects.[18] He would continue in the position until 2022. In May 2025, Asfura became the National Party's president, succeeding David Chávez.

2021 presidential campaign

[edit]

Asfura was chosen as the 2021 presidential candidate for the incumbent National Party.[19][20] He defeated Mauricio Oliva in the party's primary election. At the beginning of the campaign, polls indicated a tight race between Asfura and his left-wing opponent, Xiomara Castro, the leader of LIBRE and the wife of the former president Manuel Zelaya, but she went on to win the election by a comfortable margin.[21][22]

Asfura prioritized upgrades to infrastructure and job creation. In addition, Asfura pledged support towards the business, health, education, and manufacturing sectors.[23]

2025 presidential campaign

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Asfura was once again nominated by the National Party to be its candidate in the 2025 presidential election. He defeated Ana García Carías in the party's primary election. He was endorsed by United States President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei,[24][25] with Trump's administration pledging to reduce its foreign aid to Honduras if Asfura was not elected the country's president.[26] During the campaign, Asfura spent time in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate his alignment with the Trump administration's foreign policy.[24] He also pledged to bring "development and opportunities for everyone", to "facilitate foreign and domestic investment into the country", and "generate employment for all".[27][28] He pledged to restore Honduras's ties with Taiwan, who were broken in 2023 in order to establish ties with mainland China.[29][30]

Asfura won the election, obtaining 40.3% of the vote. The election results were marred by delays, with opposition candidates Salvador Nasralla and Rixi Moncada criticizing the vote counting process.[31] He became the most voted candidate in the history of the National Party.[12] Under his leadership, the PNH won a plurality in the country's National Congress, obtaining 49 seats and 34.51% of the vote.

Presidency (2026–present)

[edit]
Asfura with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in January 2026
Presidency of Nasry Afura
27 January 2026 – present
Vice President
CabinetAsfura's Cabinet
PartyNational
Election2025
SeatPresidential Palace

Flag of Honduras

María Antonieta Mejía, one of Asfura's elected vice presidents, reported on 26 December, just a month before his inauguration, that Asfura will assume the presidency in a ceremony in the National Congress, unlike the traditional inauguration at the National Stadium, stating that he wants a "symbolic and unostentatious" event, to refrain from a ceremony "that will have a large budget".[32]

On 21 January 2026, Asfura and his three vice presidents received the credentials for their elected positions from the National Electoral Council.[33]

He was sworn in on 27 January 2026 alongside Minister of Health in the National Congress.[34][35][36] Asfura is the oldest president to take office.[12] No foreign dignitaries were invited to the ceremony, and outgoing President Xiomara Castro did not attend.[37]

In June 2026, Asfura's approval rating is 31%.[38]

Asfura with US President Donald Trump in February 2026

Foreign policy

[edit]

Taiwan and People's Republic of China

[edit]

During the 2025 presidential campaign, Asfura pledged to restore diplomatic relations between Honduras and Taiwan, which had been severed in 2023 by the government of his predecessor Xiomara Castro in favor of establishing relations with the People's Republic of China. Asfura said that Honduras had been "100 times better off" when it maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan and proposed strengthening relations with Taiwan and the United States.[39]

Following his inauguration in January 2026, Asfura ordered a review of the agreements signed between Honduras and China under the Castro administration. His government indicated that it was evaluating the country's relationship with Beijing and the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan.[40] In July 2026, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Honduras' relations with Taiwan were an internal matter for Honduras, after China criticized exchanges between Honduras and Taiwan. At that time, Honduras had not formally restored diplomatic relations with Taiwan.[41]

Asfura has also sought to maintain economic relations with China while reconsidering diplomatic recognition. During the campaign, he stated that Honduras could maintain commercial exchanges with China while restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan.[42]

Ukraine

[edit]

Relations between Honduras and Ukraine strengthened under Asfura. On 20 April 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first leader-level conversation in the history of bilateral relations with Asfura. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine valued Honduras's support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two presidents discussed cooperation in agriculture, drone technology, energy decentralization, and digitalization, and agreed that their governments would work on agreements in these areas.[43]

On 19 June, Asfura made the first visit to Ukraine by a Honduran president since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During his meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Asfura expressed support for Ukraine and its defense of democracy and freedom. The two governments discussed economic cooperation, agriculture, digitalization, and defense technologies, including drones. Honduras also expressed interest in Ukrainian agricultural and technological expertise.[44]

Israel

[edit]

Asfura has sought to strengthen relations between Honduras and Israel that was previously broken down under Xiomara Castro. On 18 January 2026, shortly before his inauguration, Asfura met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. Herzog thanked Asfura for his commitment to deepening relations between Israel and Honduras. The two discussed strengthening trade and cooperation in agriculture, technology, and tourism.[45]

Asfura has also identified Israel, alongside the United States and Taiwan, as a country with which Honduras should maintain close relations. During his presidential campaign, he proposed strengthening cooperation with the three countries as part of his foreign-policy orientation.[46]

United States

[edit]
Asfura, Trump, Salvadoran President Bukele, Chilean President Kast, and other leaders at the Shield of the Americas summit in Florida, March 2026

Relations with the United States have been a major component of Asfura's foreign policy. During the 2025 presidential election, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura, and Asfura campaigned on strengthening relations with the United States. After winning the election, Asfura traveled to Washington, D.C. in January 2026 and met with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as officials from the Inter-American Development Bank.[47]

On 8 February 2026, Trump met with Asfura at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump highlighted the security partnership between the United States and Honduras, including cooperation against drug trafficking and criminal organizations. The two leaders also discussed migration and the return of Honduran nationals from the United States.[48]

Controversies

[edit]

In 2020, Asfura was indicted by the Honduran authorities on charges of embezzling public funds, money laundering, fraud, and abuse of authority. He and co-defendant, Nilvia Ethel Castillo Cruz, were accused of misappropriating more than 28 million lempiras for their personal benefit.[49][50][51] In 2021, the judiciary seized nine real estate properties and three businesses belonging to Asfura, Cruz, and associates.[52] Six of these properties (valued at a total 28.5 million lempiras) were ordered to be returned to their owners following a ruling against the government department Unidad Fiscal Especializada Contra Redes de Corrupción (UFERCO) on 25 September 2023, by the Juzgado de Letras de Privación de Dominio de Bienes de Origen Ilícitoin Asfura. UFERCO appealed the charges, but was unsuccessful, and the assets were returned.[53] The case continued until 15 December 2025, when the Supreme Court fully annulled all charges against Asfura and Cruz.[54][failed verification]

In early October 2021, while the aforementioned legal case was ongoing, Asfura was named in the Pandora Papers.[55]

Personal life

[edit]

Asfura married Lissette del Cid in 1985 and has three daughters.[56][57]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "'Mi Victoria es por trabajo': Nasry 'Tito' Asfura". es. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Nasry Asfura virtual ganador de la alcaldía capitalina". Proceso Digital. 24 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  3. ↑ Bustillo, Yolibeth (3 June 2021). "La UFERCO presenta un recurso de reposición por la decisión de archivar el antejuicio contra Nasry Asfura". Diario Paradigma (in Spanish).
  4. ↑ "Vicepresidente, exmandatario y alcalde envueltos en Pandora Papers en Honduras". El Comercio (in Spanish). 3 October 2021.
  5. ↑ Gonzalez, Marlon; Janetsky, Megan (24 December 2025). "Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras' presidential vote". Associated Press. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  6. ↑ Garcia, Laura; Alexander, Iñigo (25 December 2025). "Trump-backed Asfura wins Honduras presidency after disputed election". Reuters. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Las 12 cosas que no sabías de Nasry 'Tito' Asfura". El Heraldo (Honduras) [es]. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "El viernes 3 de mayo velarán restos de Gloria Zablah, madre del alcalde 'Tito' Asfura". El Heraldo. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Israel felicita al presidente electo de Honduras de origen palestino". AJN Agencia de Noticias (in Spanish). 25 December 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Nasry Asfura, de 67 años, resaltó su descendencia palestina. @papialaorden @alaordenhn #puntojoven" (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2026. Note: the user's post text says "descendencia" (in Spanish, meaning "offspring"), but he clearly meant "ascendencia" ("origin" in English).
  11. ↑ González, Anabella (24 December 2025). "¿Quién es y qué propone Nasry Asfura, el empresario y exalcalde declarado ganador de la elección presidencial en Honduras?". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 López, Nicolle (24 December 2025). "Nasry "Tito" Asfura, de la alcaldía de Tegucigalpa a la presidencia de Honduras". El Heraldo. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Asfura, el hombre de origen palestino que con la promesa de 'mano dura' contra la inseguridad gobernará Honduras". France 24. 25 December 2025. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "Nasry Asfura busca nuevamente la presidencia por el Partido Nacional". El País (Honduras) (in Spanish). La Tribuna. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Tito Asfura, de la alcaldía de Tegucigalpa a la búsqueda de la Presidencia de Honduras". La Prensa. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  16. ↑ Oliva, Ayelén (24 December 2025). "Quién es Nasry Asfura, el candidato respaldado por Trump y declarado como ganador de las elecciones en Honduras tras un polémico escrutinio que duró semanas". BBC News in Spanish. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  17. ↑ Alandete, David (26 December 2025). "Nasry 'Tito' Asfura, presidente electo de Honduras: así es 'Papi a la orden'". ABC. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "64% de capitalinos satisfechos con inversión de AMDC". El Heraldo. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. ↑ Palencia, Gustavo (26 November 2021). "Honduran ruling party hopeful Asfura faces uphill climb". Reuters. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  20. ↑ Lopez, Oscar (28 November 2021). "What's at Stake in the Honduran Presidential Election?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "'She's the only option': Hondurans hope Xiomara Castro can lead the nation in a new direction". the Guardian. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  22. ↑ García, Jacobo (28 November 2021). "Los modelos antagónicos de Xiomara Castro y Asfura se enfrentan en las urnas de Honduras". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Palencia, Gustavo (26 November 2021). "Honduran ruling party hopeful Asfura faces uphill climb". Reuters.
  24. 1 2 "Trump Endorsement Roils Already Tense Election in Honduras". New York Times. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  25. ↑ "Javier Milei expresó su respaldo al opositor hondureño Tito Asfura" [Javier Milei expressed his support for the Honduran opponent Tito Asfura]. La Opinión Austral (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  26. ↑ Perea, Fran Ruiz (30 November 2025). "Honduras celebra elecciones presidenciales con la sombra de la injerencia de Trump". La Crónica de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  27. ↑ "Hondurans vote in election shadowed by Trump aid threats". BBC. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  28. ↑ "Trump threats dominate as Hondurans vote for president". France 24. 30 November 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  29. ↑ Lee, I-chia (13 August 2025). "Taipei interested in restoring ties with Honduras: ministry". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  30. ↑ Large, Henry (9 August 2025). "Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?". The Diplomat (magazine). Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  31. ↑ "Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura wins Honduras presidential election". BBC. 24 December 2025. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "Nasry Asfura asumirá el poder en Honduras en una ceremonia sencilla y sin ostentación en 2026". EFE. 27 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  33. ↑ "Asfura recibe credencial como presidente electo de Honduras" [Asfura receives credentials as president-elect of Honduras]. Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 22 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  34. ↑ "Nasry Asfura es juramentado como Presidente de la República de Honduras (Video)" [Nasry Asfura is sworn in as President of the Republic of Honduras (Video)]. La Tribuna (in Spanish). 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  35. ↑ AFP (27 January 2026). "Trump ally Nasry Asfura sworn in as Honduras president". France 24. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  36. ↑ Garcia, Laura (27 January 2026). "Honduras' Asfura to take office after razor-thin election". Reuters. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  37. ↑ "(En Vivo) Toma de posesión de Nasry Asfura" [(Live) Nasry Asfura's inauguration]. La Tribuna (in Spanish). 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "Aprobación de Asfura cae al 31% en sus primeros 100 días: mayoría cree que Honduras va por rumbo equivocado". confidencialhn.com. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  39. ↑ "Honduras presidential rival vows to embrace US & Taiwan, rebuff China". Taipei Times. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "Honduras reviews China deals and Taiwan relations". Taipei Times. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "Taiwan's foreign ties not China's concern: MOFA". Taipei Times. 1 July 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  42. ↑ "Recognition and Influence: Lessons from Honduras". Global Policy Journal. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "First-Ever Leader-Level Conversation in the History of Bilateral Relations Between Ukraine and Honduras Takes Place". Official website of the President of Ukraine. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "Ukraine and Honduras Are Interested in Developing Bilateral Relations, Exchanging Technologies, and Providing Mutual Support: The First-Ever Leaders' Meeting in the History of Bilateral Relations Took Place in Kyiv". Official website of the President of Ukraine. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  45. ↑ "President Isaac Herzog Hosts Honduras President-Elect Nasry Asfura in Jerusalem, Joined by US Senator Lindsey Graham". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  46. ↑ "Honduras presidential rival vows to embrace US & Taiwan, rebuff China". Taipei Times. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  47. ↑ "Honduras' Asfura to take office after razor-thin election". Reuters. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  48. ↑ "Trump meets with Honduran president Asfura". Reuters. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Sala Penal ordena anular acciones penales contra Nasry 'Tito' Asfura". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  50. ↑ "Aseguran bienes del alcalde Nasry Asfura". La Prensa. 24 March 2021.
  51. ↑ "Ordenan asegurar bienes del alcalde capitalino Nasry 'Tito' Asfura". El Heraldo. 23 March 2021.
  52. ↑ "Aseguran nueve bienes y tres empresas al alcalde capitalino Nasry 'Tito' Asfura – Diario El Heraldo". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  53. ↑ "Juzgado ordena devolver bienes asegurados a Nasry Asfura". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  54. ↑ "Sala Penal ordena anular acciones penales contra Nasry 'Tito' Asfura". El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  55. ↑ Medina, Brenda; Escudero, Jesús; Díaz-Struck, Emilia (3 October 2021). "When Latin America's elite wanted to hide their wealth, they turned to this Panama firm". ICIJ. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  56. ↑ "'At your service!' Nasry Asfura becomes Honduran president-elect". France 24. 25 December 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  57. ↑ "Así es Lissette del Cid, la futura primera dama de Honduras de 2026 a 2030". El Heraldo (Honduras) [es] (in Spanish). 27 December 2025. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
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