No matter who wins today’s election in Honduras, the true winners are the Honduran people. This year, Hondurans preserved their democracy and autonomy by deposing a usurping executive, President Manuel Zelaya. They did so despite the weakness and mixed signals sent by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Their bipartisan act will bear fruit for Honduran democracy well into the future.
Zelaya attempted, through mob rule, to extend his presidency beyond the single term permitted by the Honduran constitution. Against a ruling from the Honduran supreme court and the admonitions of the Honduran congress, he attempted to manipulate military power and hold a referendum that would let him seek another term. He did so with the backing of Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, who provided fraudulent ballots to ensure Zelaya’s victory.
But instead of allowing their democracy to be destroyed, the Honduran congress and supreme court acted together, through constitutional methods, to remove Zelaya from power in June. The nation’s military, too, followed its constitutional obligation in supporting civilian institutions
At first, President Obama defied Honduras’ constitutional authorities and took Zelaya’s side. He demanded Zelaya’s reinstatement and cut off foreign aid. At one point, the Obama State Department even threatened not to recognize today’s election, which could have done incalculable harm.
But Obama subsequently changed course. Through a face-saving diplomatic sleight of hand — over the opposition of Zelaya’s Democrat allies in the U.S. Congress — Obama tricked Zelaya into accepting a very bad deal earlier this month. It lets the Honduran congress, which originally voted to remove him, decide whether to reinstate him. They have delayed their decision until this coming week, after the election of the new president-elect. By then, pressure to act on Zelaya’s behalf will have evaporated. Even his reinstatement would be temporary and meaningless.
By resisting Obama’s earlier threats and bucking elite world opinion, Honduran leaders strengthened their democratic institutions for the future. The precedent of military obedience to civilian government will serve them well. Roberto Micheletti, who like Zelaya belongs to the Liberal Party, will step aside quietly after serving as interim president for a few critical months. (He is not a candidate for president.) His actions and those of his fellow party-members are heroic, ensuring that this crisis will serve as the bedrock for vigorous two-party competition for future elections. And another good thing: No matter who wins, the precedent of limited executive power will be firmly embedded permanently in the mind of the new Honduran president.
