A conservative Honduran lawmaker was gravely injured when an explosive device detonated near her head inside the National Congress, underscoring the escalating violence directed at the countrys opposition.
National Party Deputy Gladis Aurora Lopez Calderon was giving an interview when she was struck by what appeared to be a grenade allegedly hurled by a far-left protester, according to the Daily Caller. Honduran outlet HCH TV published footage on X that captured both the moment of impact and the object being thrown toward the lawmakers.
Were arriving at the emergency room, Im in a lot of pain. Im deaf in one ear, I think the cameras captured me being pushed out. I have to ask Human Rights to protect me, Lopez said after the attack, describing the immediate aftermath as she sought medical care. Her plea highlights the growing sense among conservative legislators that state institutions are failing to shield them from radicalized agitators.
National Party Deputy Toms Zambrano, the partys leader in Congress, directly blamed far-left demonstrators for the assault. We were giving interviews to the media, accompanied by fellow deputies from the National Party to begin the extraordinary session, and they threw bombs at us, with mortars, Zambrano said, according to Times Now, before accusing National Congress President Luis Rolando Redondo Guifarro of bearing responsibility for the attack.
These acts of violence have been perpetrated against the opposition for four years. They cannot continue abusing their power, Zambrano said, arguing that the left-wing leadership has fostered an environment where political violence against conservatives is tolerated. His remarks reflect a broader concern that Honduras is drifting toward intimidation tactics rather than democratic debate.
Redondo, for his part, issued a statement on X distancing himself from the incident and promising an investigation. I have immediately instructed the security personnel of the National Congress to review the internal security cameras, as well as the 911 system records, in order to identify the person responsible for throwing an explosive device from outside the National Congress (public road) and proceed according to the law, Redondo said.
The attack comes on the heels of a tightly contested presidential race in which businessman Nasry Asfura, the National Party nominee endorsed by President Donald Trump, edged out Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla by a razor-thin margin. With Asfura winning 40.26% to Nasrallas 39.55%, a difference of just 26,000 votes, the violence now engulfing the National Congress raises urgent questions about whether Honduras fragile democracy can protect conservative opposition voices from an increasingly radical left.
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