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El Ciudadano

Original article: “Narcoestado” de vuelta: mayoría rechaza el indulto de Trump a Juan Orlando Hernández y 79% le cierra la puerta a otro mandato

The concern over Juan Orlando Hernández’s return to Honduras signaling a return to a «narco-state» has clear evidence in public opinion. According to a survey conducted by the Reflection, Research, and Communication Team (ERIC-SJ) between May 12 and 23, 55.3% of citizens oppose the presidential pardon given by U.S. President Donald Trump to Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison by the American justice system for drug trafficking.

The survey, which involved 1,559 people over the age of 18 across 16 of the 18 departments in the country and has a margin of error of ±2.5%, demonstrates that the majority disapproves of the decision made by the White House occupant, as reported by TeleSUR.

Beyond the outright rejection of the pardon, 34.6% of respondents believe Hernández’s release will have no direct consequences for Honduras, contrasting with the 26.7% who warn that it will damage the country’s international image. On a more critical note, 13.1% view this as a bad example for institutions, and even more alarmingly, 11% interpret this action as a sign of the potential return of the «narco-state», which U.S. prosecutors claim characterized Hernández’s term, during which he allegedly facilitated the shipment of over 400 tons of cocaine to the U.S. through Honduras.

The physical return of Juan Orlando Hernández to Honduran soil, which occurred last Sunday, July 26, at Palmerola airport, has sparked a political storm. 52.2% of the population expresses disagreement with his return to the country, reflecting dissatisfaction with the perception of impunity that comes from a former president convicted of 45 years for drug trafficking and arms trafficking in New York being able to walk freely in Tegucigalpa. However, 46.2% express agreement with his return, indicating a loyalty that still exists among certain right-wing sectors, who welcomed him with flags of the National Party.

The ERIC-SJ survey also sheds significant light on the former leader’s political aspirations. When asked whether Hernández should seek another presidential term — a position he held for two consecutive periods from 2014 to 2022 — public response was overwhelmingly clear: 79.1% of respondents categorically oppose this option, while only 20.3% support it. This rejection of a third term suggests that, despite the U.S. pardon, the majority of Hondurans believe his political cycle should be definitively concluded, even as the specter of his potential return to power remains a debated topic in public opinion.

Hernández Must Answer to Honduran Justice for Fraud and Money Laundering Cases

From a legal perspective, Trump’s decision has created a complex scenario. The presidential pardon and the dismissal of the judicial record in the Southern District Court of New York «forgives the conviction, but does not erase the crimes» for which he was prosecuted, warned ERIC-SJ. This distinction is crucial because, in the local context, the measure does not extinguish pending processes in Honduras.

Hernández still must answer to Honduran justice for fraud and money laundering cases, specifically in the so-called Pandora II. His appearance is scheduled for August 3, a hearing that poses a real challenge for the independence of the judiciary in the country, especially after a judge provisionally suspended the arrest warrant and Interpol red notice to facilitate his voluntary appearance.

The current situation only deepens the polarization that characterized Hernández’s years in power. His administration was marked by corruption scandals, high violence rates, and the controversial reelection of 2017, which sparked protests resulting in over 30 deaths.

«People are very scared,» stated Abiezer López, who participated in the protests against Hernández, in an interview with DW. «We all remember the violence of his government. His return represents a severe blow to social movements across the country,» he noted.

La entrada Public Opposes Trump’s Pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández; 79% Rejects His Return to Power se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.