Nasry Tito Asfura, a right-wing candidate backed by former US President Donald Trump, has been declared the winner of Honduras' presidential election. The electoral council announced Asfura's victory on December 24, with a margin of 28,000 votes over his closest rival, Salvador Nasralla, a center-right candidate. Asfura secured 40.27% of the vote, while Nasralla garnered 39.53%.

The electoral council proclaimed Asfura the winner before completing the review of all tally sheets under a special scrutiny launched last week to recount votes flagged as inconsistent. The decision was criticized by defeated candidates and lamented by the Organization of American States, which sent an observation mission to monitor the election.

Asfura, a 67-year-old construction magnate and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, the capital city, has been a strong supporter of Trump's policies. During his campaign, Asfura pledged to strengthen ties with the United States and promote economic growth through infrastructure development.

Nasralla, who came in second, expressed disappointment with the electoral council's decision, stating that the review of inconsistent ballots was not completed. "We cannot accept the results until all the votes are counted and verified," Nasralla said in a statement.

The Organization of American States (OAS) also criticized the electoral council's decision, saying that the review of votes was not completed as required by law. "The OAS observation mission regrets that the electoral council did not complete the review of all tally sheets before proclaiming a winner," said a statement from the OAS.

The Honduran presidential election was marked by controversy and allegations of fraud. The electoral council's decision to declare Asfura the winner has sparked concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

The electoral council's decision is final, and Asfura is expected to be sworn in as the new president of Honduras in the coming days. The outcome of the election has significant implications for Honduras' relations with the United States and the region. Asfura's victory is likely to strengthen ties with the US, while also raising concerns about the country's democratic institutions.

In a statement, Trump congratulated Asfura on his victory, saying that he was "thrilled" to see his candidate win. "Nasry Tito Asfura is a great leader who will work tirelessly to promote economic growth and prosperity in Honduras," Trump said.

The outcome of the election has also sparked concerns about the country's democratic institutions. The OAS has called for a thorough investigation into allegations of fraud and irregularities during the election. The electoral council's decision to declare Asfura the winner has raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the ability of the electoral council to conduct free and fair elections.