National Party of Honduras explained

National Party of Honduras
Native Name:Partido Nacional de Honduras
Native Name Lang:es
Abbreviation:PNH
President:Fátima Juárez[1]
Secretary General:Mario Pineda
Foundation:27 February 1902; 121 years ago
Headquarters:Comayagüela
Youth Wing:Nationalist Youth (Juventud Nacionalista)
Ideology:Conservatism
Social market economy
Christian democracy
International:Centrist Democrat International (observer)
Affiliation1 Title:Regional affiliation
Affiliation1:Union of Latin American Parties
Christian Democrat Organization of America
Seats1 Title:National Congress
Colours: Blue
Country:Honduras

The National Party of Honduras (PNH; Spanish; Castilian: 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,[2] 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 13 PNH presidents. Manuel Bonilla was the first (1903–1907), and the most recent is the president, Juan Orlando Hernández who served from 2014 to 2022. 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.[3]

History

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 was over any other interest.Moreover, in the late 1800s, actors such as Ponciano Leiva and Luis Bogran made efforts to conform an institution which reflected their ideology.[4]

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.[5]

Symbols

Seal

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.

Organic structure

  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

Presidential elections

ElectionParty candidateVotes%Result
1902Manuel Bonilla28,55048.7%Elected
1916Francisco Bertrand77,832100%
1923Tiburcio Carías Andino49,54147.1%
1924Miguel Paz Barahona72,02199%
1928Tiburcio Carías Andino47,74543.38%Lost
193281,211Elected
1936Elected by Constituent Assembly
1939Elected by Congress
1948Juan Manuel Gálvez254,80299.85%Elected
1954Tiburcio Carías Andino77,72630.85%Lost
1971Ramón Ernesto Cruz Uclés299,80749.28%Elected
1981Ricardo Zuñiga491,08940.43%Lost
1985Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero701,40645.49%
1989916,13152.29%Elected
1993Oswaldo Ramos Soto735,12342.97%Lost
1997Nora Gúnera de Melgar844,98542.76%
2001Ricardo Maduro1,135,56552.22%Elected
2005Porfirio Lobo Sosa925,24342.15%Lost
20091,212,84656.56%Elected
2013Juan Orlando Hernández1,149,30236.89%
20171,410,88842.95%
2021Nasry Asfura1,240,26036.93%Lost

National Congress elections

ElectionVotes%Seats+/–Position
1923 15 2nd
1924 31 1st
1926 10
1928 10
1930 3
1932 20
1934 12
1936132,94899.99% 4
1942 14
1948254,80299.85% 4
195477,72630.85% 26 2nd
19562,00300.48% 23 3rd
195798,08829.57% 18 2nd
1965334,64655.15% 17 1st
1971299,80752.62% 3
1980423,62344.15% 1 2nd
1981491,08941.6% 1
1985701,40645.49% 29
1989916,13152.29% 13 1st
1993735,12342.97% 21 2nd
1997844,98542.76%
2001967,73346.46% 6 1st
200540.42% 6 2nd
200953.37% 16 1st
201333.64% 23
20171,410,88847.66% 13
202130.18% 17 2nd

Controversies

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.[6] After the scheme was discovered, the President said the money should be returned by the party.[7]

Former President Porfirio Lobo was accused in March 2017 by the New York's DA office for helping protect drug organizations.[8]

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. Hernandez denied the accusations.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Fátima Juárez, Nueva Presidenta del Partido Nacional. Spanish. La Prensa. 24 January 2024. 24 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Declaration of Principles . www.tse.hn . 11 September 2021 . es.
  3. Web site: Tribunal Supremo Electoral. siede.tse.hn. 8 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728205001/http://siede.tse.hn/escrutinio/index.php. 28 July 2017. dead.
  4. Web site: Los 112 años de Fundación del Partido Nacional de Honduras. 2 March 2014. LaTribuna.hn. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110346/http://www.latribuna.hn/2014/03/02/los-112-anos-de-fundacion-del-partido-nacional-de-honduras/. 4 March 2016. dead.
  5. Web site: "Historia de Nuestro Partido". 6 March 2014. PartidoNacional.hn.
  6. Web site: How hitmen and high living lifted lid on looting of Honduran healthcare system. Nina. Lakhani. 10 June 2015. the Guardian.
  7. Web site: JOH: Partido Nacional de Honduras debe devolver fondos al IHSS. Diario El Heraldo.
  8. Web site: Ligan a Porfirio Lobo con narco. 19 March 2017.
  9. News: Juan Orlando Hernández: Honduran ex-leader extradited to US . BBC News . 21 April 2022.