Photo: Welcome Velasco / EFE
Xiomara Castro’s seizure of power marks the beginning of a new chapter for Honduran democracy. It is the starting point of an unprecedented period because it is the first time that a woman reaches the Presidency in the entire political history of the Central American nation.
Castro assumes command thanks to the trust placed in her by more than 1.7 million catrachos at the polls. Without a doubt, a great victory, as great as the challenges that now lie ahead, since we are talking about a country where 70% of the population lives under the shadow of poverty, a country from which between 500 and 600 people flee every day. hoping to find a better standard of living in the United States, without taking into account the risks to which they are exposed along the way at the mercy of human traffickers.
Generating the conditions so that ordinary Hondurans do not think about deserting is one of the greatest challenges for the new president, and this must be accompanied by social and citizen security measures, as well as political stability.
If the Castro Administration will be as she herself put it in a Tweet: “Twelve years of struggle and twelve years of resistance. Today begins the Government of the people. Good morning, Honduras!”, will have to form the necessary alliances with the governments of the region and particularly with the United States to create the opportunities that will lift the country out of poverty and corruption.
It is an act of good faith that the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, has decided to attend Castro’s inauguration. Honduras needs the support of foreign resources.
This Thursday’s meeting between the two to establish as a priority a strategy to attack the root of the problems of the migratory wave is a great step. The United States has made it clear that it wants to cooperate with the incoming government. Today it is not about whether you are from the left or the right, but about applying policies that work to benefit a people who put their trust in a certain candidate in the hope that things will improve.
Castro cannot forget that her route to power began in the streets several years ago (2009) when people backed her to protest the overthrow of then President Manuel Zelaya (her husband). There, in the midst of protests that were dissolved with tear gas, water cannons and other types of police and military brutality, he sealed his pact with the people. Now it cannot fail, nor give itself the luxury of giving in to interests other than those of the people. The entire region will be watching your actions. I hope and fulfill.
eldiariony.com
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.