On 28th June 2009, a coup d’état took place in Honduras against the government of Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales. Despite condemnations and sanctions from the international community the Honduras is still facing a very important democratic crisis. What does the EU consider that should be the next steps that the government should take de facto in order to restore democracy and protect human rights?

As an attempt to answer this question a public conference was organized with the support of GUE/NGL on the 24^th of February. It was marked by the participation of several representatives from the EU institutions, civil society organisations and the deposed Honduran government.

On 29 November 2009, a presidential election was held, according to the Honduran constitution. Porfirio Lobo (conservative) was elected with around 55% of the votes. Whereas observers from the European Union said that the elections were characterized by "enthusiasm, democracy and transparency", the organisations and individuals in Honduras, including the National Resistance Front against the coup d'État in Honduras, said that elections held on 29 November would not be legitimate.

But according to Victor Fernandez, representative from a Human Rights, there is “absolutely no recognition of the opposition” which is “condemned of criminalisation and wiped out”. “Popular and social movement stressed the need for a new constitution” added Lorena Zelaya, member of the Coordination of the Popular Resistance Front.

Petros Mavromichalis, Head of the Unit for Mexico and Central America, RELEX, European Commission, presented several measures which have been adopted by the Commission but all negotiations and payments were frozen after the coup (except humanitarian aids) and the EU sent a team of experts to monitor the elections. Mr Mavromichalis harassed the need to strengthen dialogue between EU representatives and nongovernmental organisations in Honduras.

Bertha Oliva, director of the Committee of Relatives of Detained and Disappeared in Honduras-COFADEH spoke about the many threats addressed to the opposition: she pointed out “the need to clarify all the assassinations and to prosecute all those behind the coup”.    

Ilda Figueiredo, member from Portuguese Communist Party explained the GUE/NGL response to the crisis of democracy in Honduras: “there must be no dialogue with the de facto government; the European Union must not recognize the elections”.

As Bertha Olivia reaffirmed, the progressive forces of the opposition in Honduras have to “stay together and fight for democracy”, with active support from the international community and especially from the EU.

by Nathalie Duran