Honduras: Xiomara leads election campaign

In the run-up to presidential elections scheduled for November 24, Xiomara Castro has the support of 28% of voters, according to a May CID Gallup poll.

The candidate of the Freedom and Refounding Party (Libertad y Refundación - abbreviated as Libre, or Free) Castro is the wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in 2009 coup.

Following Castro in the index of voter intentions is sports commentator Salvador Nasralla of the Anti-Corruption Party, trailed by Juan Orlando Hernandez of the ruling National Party.

The Honduran electoral system does not provide for a runoff, so if the trend continues, Castro will become the first woman president in the country’s history.

For his part, Zelaya is one of the main advisors to his wife’s campaign.

Castro compares this formula to that of Bill and Hillary Clinton in the United States.

If she wins, Zelaya would be close to the presidency, says Castro, but she would would be the person who makes decisions.

The success of the " Xiomara phenomenon" as they call it in Honduras, could result in the country again becoming a member of the Venezuela-led Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas.