Llorens: "Honduran electoral process has much legitimacy"

Tegucigalpa - The U.S. ambassador in Honduras, Hugo Llorens, said that the elections being held tomorrow in this Central American country "have much legitimacy."

Speaking to Radio America which broadcasts from Tegucigalpa, U.S. Ambassador Hugo Llorens said Sunday's general elections are legitimate because they were called before the June 28 removal from power of now former President Manuel Zelaya.

"We know that the Honduran electoral process has much legitimacy because it was launched long before 28 June," he said in his statements.

Llorens said that candidates who participate in the contest also are legitimate, as "they were chosen in primaries held last year."

The diplomat also recognized that all political parties participating in the elections "are democratic institutions with long trajectories in Honduras" and that the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) "is an autonomous body from the Government and its magistrates were selected before 28 June. "

All this, he added, "gives the process a lot of legitimacy."

Translated from Proceso Digital