EXCLUSIVE: Honduras’ 2009 Coup Anniversary Masks Oligarchic Power Plays and Political Strife

As Honduras marks the 16th anniversary of the controversial 2009 military coup that ousted then-President Manuel Zelaya, current President Xiomara Castro staged a highly charged event condemning what she calls “frauds” and “coups.” However, beneath this rhetoric lies a more complex reality tied to constitutional boundaries, elite power struggles, and ongoing political manipulation. The coup took place on June 28, 2009, amid Zelaya’s attempt to hold an unauthorized referendum—the so-called "fourth ballot box"—intended to initiate constitutional reforms. While Zelaya’s agenda was popular with his base, it ran afoul of existing Honduran laws and institutions designed to preserve the country’s democratic...