LatinNews Daily - 22 April 2026

*Honduras’ 128-member unicameral congress has approved the 2026 state budget sent down by the conservative Partido Nacional (PN) government led by President Nasry Asfura, which took office in January, replacing the leftist Partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre) government led by former president Xiomara Castro (2022-2026). The approved budget is for L444.34bn (US$16.72bn), up from L430.91bn approved for 2025. While the 2026 budget was not approved last year amid a stalemate in congress where Libre lacked a majority, the November 2025 general election handed the PN effective control of the legislature, where it has forged an alliance with main opposition Partido Liberal (PL). Finance Minister Emilio Hernández Hércules said that the approved budget for 2026 is down 5.3% on the government’s initial proposal, and is in line with Asfura’s vision for the country; the president has previously highlighted plans to shrink the state and cut public spending. However, Hernández highlighted that under the new budget, education would receive an increase of over L3.70bn, while the portfolios of health, security, and defence would receive increases of L2.00bn, L1.80bn, and L1.52bn, respectively. He said that the new budget was based on the need for fiscal discipline and envisioned a fiscal deficit of 1.0% while it included investment of L48.23bn, equivalent to 4.4% of GDP, to strengthen strategic sectors such as energy and road infrastructure. Hernández also highlighted that the budget assigned L6.82bn in fuel and energy subsidies as the country, as elsewhere, is facing rising fuel costs due to the war in the Middle East.

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