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January 28, 2022

Xiomara Castro Sworn In as First Woman President in Honduras's 200-Year History
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In Honduras, Xiomara Castro was sworn in Thursday as the first woman
president in the country's history. Thousands of supporters attended
Castro's inauguration ceremony at the national stadium in the capital
Tegucigalpa. During her speech, Castro ordered free electricity for
Hondurans living in extreme poverty, vowed justice for Berta Cáceres and
other murdered land and water defenders, and said her government will
not continue to loot Honduras.

President Xiomara Castro: "Poverty increased by 74% to make us the
poorest country in Latin America. This figure by itself explains the
migrant caravan of thousands of people of all ages who flee to the
north, Mexico and the United States, looking for a place and a way to
subsist, regardless of risk it implies for their lives."

Castro's presidency marks the end of a brutal 12-year regime by the
U.S.-backed right-wing National Party, which first came to power after
the 2009 U.S.-backed coup that overthrew Castro's husband, former
leftist President Manuel Zelaya. This comes as many are demanding
outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández be indicted and
extradited to the United States to face charges of aiding drug
traffickers, including his brother.


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