Manuel Zelaya

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zelaya and the second or maternal family name is Rosales.

José Manuel Zelaya Rosales (born 20 September 1952)^[2] is a Honduran politician who was President of Honduras from 27 January 2006 until his forcible removal in the 2009 coup d'état, and who since January 2022 serves as the first First Gentleman of Honduras. He is the eldest son of a wealthy businessman, and inherited his father's nickname "Mel". Before entering politics he was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.

Manuel Zelaya
Zelaya at his wife's presidential inauguration, January 2022
First Gentleman of Honduras
Incumbent
Assumed role 27 January 2022
President	Xiomara Castro
Preceded by	Ana García Carías (as First Lady)
Deputy of the Olancho Department
In office 25 January 2014 – 25 January 2018
Leader of Libre
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 June 2011
Preceded by	Party established
52nd President of Honduras
In office 27 January 2006 – 28 June 2009
Vice President	Elvin Ernesto Santos Arístides Mejía (as Vice-Presidential Commissioner)
Preceded by	Ricardo Maduro
Succeeded by	Roberto Micheletti (interim)^[a]
Deputy of the Olancho Department
In office 25 January 1986 – 25 January 1998
Personal details
Born	José Manuel Zelaya Rosales (1952-09-20) 20 September 1952 (age 70) Catacamas, Olancho, Honduras
Political party	Liberal Party (1970–2011) LIBRE (2011–present)
Spouse	Xiomara Castro ​ (m. 1976)​
Children	4 (including Xiomara)
Alma mater	National Autonomous University of Honduras (Incomplete)^[1]

Elected as a liberal, Zelaya shifted to the political left during his presidency, forging an alliance with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas known as ALBA.^[3] On 28 June 2009, during the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis,^[4] he was seized by the military and sent to Costa Rica in a coup d'état.^[2][5] On 21 September 2009 he returned to Honduras clandestinely and resurfaced in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.^[6] In 2010, he left Honduras for the Dominican Republic, an exile that lasted more than a year.^[7]

He now represents Honduras as a deputy of the Central American Parliament.^[8] Since January 1976 Zelaya has been married to Xiomara Castro, the current President of Honduras, elected in the 2021 general election.^[9][10] Upon his wife's inauguration, Zelaya became the first "First Gentleman" in Honduran history.

Background

Zelaya was born the eldest of four children in Juticalpa, Olancho.^{[citation needed]} Two of his brothers remain alive. Zelaya's mother, Ortensia Rosales de Zelaya, has been described as his best campaigner. His family first lived in Copán, then they moved east to Catacamas, Olancho.

He attended Niño Jesús de Praga y Luis Landa elementary school and the Instituto Salesiano San Miguel. He began his university studies in civil engineering, but left in 1976 with 11 courses completed, for agriculture and the forestry sector.^[1] He was forced to take over the family business by the arrest of his father José Manuel Zelaya Ordoñez, implicated in the murders known as "Slaughter of the Horcones."^[11][12] These murders also involved Mayor José Enrique Chinchilla, Sub-Lieutenant Benjamín Plata, José Manuel Zelaya Ordoñez (property owner) and Carlos Bhar. They were charged and taken to the Central Prison; after four years in prison, they were favored with a pardon from the head of state, General Policarpo Paz García, in 1979.^[13] He has engaged in business activities, including timber and cattle, handed down to him by his late father. He is now a landowner in Olancho. In 1987, Zelaya became manager of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP), as well as of the National Association of Wood Processing Enterprises.^[14] The COHEP occupies a particularly important role in Honduran politics, as the Constitution delineates that the organization elects one of the seven members of the Nominating Board that proposes nominees to the Supreme Court of Honduras.^[15]

Zelaya's father got a 20-year prison sentence for his role in the 1975 Los Horcones massacre, which took place on the Zelaya family ranch, Los Horcones. As a result of an amnesty, he served less than two.^[16][17]

Political career

Zelaya joined the Liberal Party of Honduras, Partido Liberal de Honduras, (PLH) in 1970 and became active a decade later. He was a deputy in the National Congress for three consecutive times between 1985 and 1998. He held many positions within the PLH and was Minister for Investment in charge of the Honduran Social Investment Fund (HSIF) in a previous PLH government.^[18] In the 2005 presidential primaries, his faction was called Movimiento Esperanza Liberal (MEL). He received 52% of the 289,300 Liberal votes, vs. 17% for Jaime Rosenthal Oliva and 12% for Gabriela Núñez, the candidate of the Nueva Mayoría faction.^[19] Zelaya won the general election of November 27 with 918,669 votes, which accounted for 49.9% of voters, defeating the National party candidate Porfirio Lobo Sosa, who received 46.22% of the votes.^[b]

Presidency (2006–2009)

 

Manuel Zelaya in 2007

During Zelaya's time in office, Honduras became a member of ALBA, an international cooperation organization based on the idea of social, political, and economic integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It marked his turning to left-of-center politics, the first such case of right to left policy switch as he had been elected in on a conservative platform.^[22] Political opponents, particularly business elites, opposed his foreign policy, including his alliance with Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, and friendship with Cuba's Raúl Castro.^[23]

In spite of a number of economic problems, there were a number of significant achievements under Zelaya's presidency. Under his government, free education for all children was introduced,^[24] subsidies to small farmers were provided, bank interest rates were reduced,^[25] the minimum wage was increased by 80%, school meals were guaranteed for more than 1.6 million children from poor families, domestic employees were integrated into the social security system, poverty was reduced by almost 10% during two years of government, and direct state help was provided for 200,000 families in extreme poverty, with free electricity supplied to those Hondurans most in need.^[26]

Alliance with ALBA

Main article: Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas

On 22 July 2008, Zelaya sought to incorporate Honduras into ALBA, an international cooperation organization based on the idea of social, political, and economic integration in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Conflict with media

Zelaya said that the main media outlets in Honduras, owned by wealthy conservatives, were biased against him and did not cover what his government was doing: "No one publishes anything about me. . . . what prevails here is censorship of my government by the mass media." Inter Press Service says that the vast majority of radio and TV stations and print publications are owned by just six families.^[27][28][29]

According to a paper written by Manuel Orozco and Rebecca Rouse for the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in the United States, the Honduran media operate as arms of political parties.^[30] Honduran journalists say that most of the news media in Honduras are unabashedly partisan, allied with political parties and local power brokers.^[29]

On 24 May 2007, Zelaya ordered ten two-hour cadenas (mandatory government broadcasts) on all television and radio stations, "to counteract the misinformation of the news media".^[31] The move, while legal, was fiercely criticized by the country's main journalists' union, and Zelaya was dubbed "authoritarian" by his opposition.^[32] Ultimately, the broadcasts were scaled back to a one-hour program on the government's plans to expand telephone service, a half-hour on new electrical power plants and a half-hour about government revenues.^[31]

An unknown gunman in 2007 murdered a journalist who often criticized Zelaya.^[33] The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) and the United Nations criticized threats against journalists in Honduras.^[34] Other critical journalists, such as Dagoberto Rodriguez and Hector Geovanny Garcia, fled into exile because of constant murder threats.^[35]

The Associated Press, citing Manuel Orozco of the Inter American Dialogue, said that "His [Zelaya's] campaign for changing the constitution has energized his support base of labour groups, farmers and civil organisations who have long felt marginalized in a country where a wealthy elite controls the media and much of politics."^[36]

Corruption investigations of Hondutel

Main article: Financial irregularities during the Manuel Zelaya administration

Manuel Zelaya appointed his nephew Marcelo Chimirri as General Manager of the state-owned telecom Hondutel.

According to the Mexican newspaper El Universal, relying on information supplied by the Arcadia Foundation, Hondutel's revenue decreased 47% between 2005 and 2006, the first year of President Manuel Zelaya's administration, despite Hondutel's monopoly on international calls^[37] In April 2009, Latin Node Inc., an American company, pleaded guilty to making improper payments to Hondutel, "knowing that some, or all of those funds, would be passed on as bribes to officials of Hondutel".^[38][39] Chimirri resigned in 2007, and was arrested following the coup. He remains in prison on charges of abuse of authority and embezzlement, charges he denies. Apart from Chimirri, Oscar Danilo Santos (the former manager of Hondutel), Jorge Rosa, and James Lagos are all charged in connection with allegedly committing crimes of abuse of authority, fraud and bribery having received bribes of $1.09 million U.S. from an international carrier in exchange for Hondutel providing that carrier lower rates than other firms. Auditor Julio Daniel Flores was charged for the lesser crime of violation of duties of officers.^[40]

Attempts to modify the constitution

 

Zelaya with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009

President Zelaya came to international attention in June 2009 when he was overthrown in a military coup and forced into exile. The crisis that led to his removal from office centered around the question of whether changes would be made to the 1982 Honduran Constitution. Zelaya proposed a national poll to gauge interest in constitutional change, which provoked a fierce reaction from opposition parties. Those responsible for the coup justified their actions on the grounds that Zelaya's interest in potentially convening a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution was illegal, and alleged that his real motive was to increase his time in office. Zelaya denied that his motive was to stay in office, stating that he intended to step down in January 2010 as scheduled, noting that his successor would be elected at the same time the vote on whether to convene a constituent assembly would occur.^[41]

Under constitutional law, the President of Honduras can amend the constitution without a referendum if a congressional majority exists. However, eight articles cannot be amended, including those related to term limits, the permitted system of government, and the process of presidential succession.^[42]

Because the president can amend 368 of the 375 articles in the Honduran constitution without calling a constituent assembly, some suspected that Zelaya's true intention was to extend his rule.^[42] One-time Christian Democrat presidential candidate Juan Ramon Martinez argued that Zelaya was attempting to discredit parliamentary democracy, saying, "There appears to be a set of tactics aimed at discrediting institutions... he has repeated on several occasions that democratic institutions are worthless and that democracy has not helped at all".^[42]

Referendum

Main article: Honduran fourth ballot box referendum

On 11 November 2008, following requests from many Honduran groups for the convening of a constituent assembly,^[43] Zelaya issued a decree organizing a poll to decide whether the electorate wanted a fourth ballot box installed at polling places for the upcoming 29 November 2009 general election – an addition to the usual three for Presidential, Congressional, and municipal candidates. The fourth ballot would ask voters whether to convene a National Constituent Assembly for the purpose of writing a new constitution. In March 2009, Zelaya announced that he first wanted to have a preliminary poll – he suggested 28 June 2009 as a date – to ask voters whether they wanted the fourth ballot to be included in the November 2009 election.

There has been considerable debate as to whether Zelaya's call for a poll about whether to organize a constituent assembly was legally valid according to the 1982 Constitution. Article 373 of the Constitution states that the Constitution can be amended by a two-thirds majority of the normal National Congress. Only eight articles cannot be amended in this fashion; they are specified in Article 374 of the Constitution and include term limits, system of government that is permitted, and process of presidential succession.^[44] Because the congress can amend 368 of 375 articles without any constituent assembly, some observers charged that Zelaya's true intention of holding a referendum on convening a constitutional convention on the same date as his successor's election was to extend his term of rule.^[45] In a newspaper interview shortly before his removal from office, Zelaya stated that he had every intention of stepping down when his term ends in January 2010.^[41]

Violation of Supreme Court rulings

The Supreme Court, without deciding on the constitutionality of the poll, ruled that a lower court ruling blocking the referendum was lawful.^[46]

The Supreme Court's ruling was supported by Congress, the country's attorney general, top electoral body, and the country's human rights ombudsman, who all said that Zelaya violated the law.^[47] Despite the opposition of the other branches of the government, Zelaya moved forward with his plan to hold the poll on 28 June 2009. In Honduras the military assists with election logistics; in late May 2009, Zelaya requested military help to distribute ballot boxes and other materials for the poll. The chief of the military, General Romeo Vásquez Velásquez, refused to carry this order out. In response, Zelaya dismissed Vásquez on 24 May. Subsequently, defense minister Edmundo Orellana and several other military commanders resigned in support of Vásquez. Both the Honduran Supreme Court and the Honduran Congress deemed the dismissal of Vásquez unlawful.^[46][48]

By 25 June, the newspaper La Tribuna reported that the military had deployed hundreds of troops around Tegucigalpa, to prevent possible disturbances by organisations that support Zelaya and with the exception of leftist organizations, "all sectors are publicly opposed to the consultation, which has been declared illegal by the Prosecutor and the Supreme Court". The troops were deployed from the First Infantry Battalion, located 5 km east of the city, to the vicinity of the presidential residence in the west, and the airport, in the south.^[49]

There is some doubt, however, that Zelaya ever actually fired Vásquez. CNN news on 27 June reported that Zelaya on 24 June had said that he would fire Vásquez; but that on 26 June Zelaya said that he had never carried out his threat and the general had not been fired. "I didn't do it", he told CNN.^[50]

The Congress, the attorney general, and the top electoral tribunal declared Zelaya's proposed referendum illegal.^[47][51][52] Congress began to discuss impeaching Zelaya.^[53] On 27 June and again on 30 June 2009, thousands of protesters opposed to Zelaya's impeachment marched through the capital city.^[53]

Constitutional crisis

Main article: 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis

Coup

 

Zelaya in Brazil in August 2009

On 28 June 2009, the Supreme Court issued an order to detain President Zelaya, who was subsequently captured by the military.^[54] He was then brought to the air force base Hernan Acosta Mejia,^[55][56][57] and taken into exile in Costa Rica,^[58] precipitating the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis.

The reason given for the arrest order were charges brought by the Attorney General. The rationale of the order was to enable a statement before the Supreme Court. The decision to expatriate Zelaya was however taken by the military themselves, knowing full well that expatriation violated the constitution. The military offered as justification that they exiled Zelaya "to avoid mob violence".^[59][60] Following the coup, Zelaya spoke to the media from his forced exile in San José. He identified the events as a coup and a kidnapping. Soldiers pulled him from his bed, he said, and assaulted his guards. Zelaya announced that he would not recognize anyone named as his successor, and that he wanted to finish his term in office.^[61] He also stated that he would begin to meet with diplomats,^[62] and attended the Summit of Central American presidents held in Managua, Nicaragua, two days later (30 June 2009).

The National Congress voted unanimously to accept what they said was Zelaya's letter of resignation. Zelaya said he did not write the letter.^[63]

National Congress President Roberto Micheletti, the next person in the presidential line of succession and a centre-Right,^[64] assumed the presidency following Zelaya's removal from office.^[65] The event was greeted with applause in the national Congress.^[66]

International bodies like the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the European Union publicly condemned the events. U.S. President Barack Obama said, "We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the President of Honduras."^[67][68] Hugo Chávez threatened to invade Honduras if the Venezuelan embassy or ambassador were attacked.^[69] Venezuela has said it would suspend oil shipments, and Honduras's neighbors—El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua—suspended overland trade, and lifted the ban after two days.^[70] A one-page United Nations resolution, passed by acclamation in the then 192-member body, condemned the events and demanded Zelaya's "immediate and unconditional restoration" as president.^[71] The resolution calls "firmly and categorically on all states to recognise no government other than that" of Mr. Zelaya.^[72]

During the first five days out of country, Zelaya spent 80,000 dollars of Honduran public money on goods including hotels, food and clothing, continuing to spend on his expenses as the president of the country.^[73][74][75]

Zelaya's wife, Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, charged that the exiling of her husband was a violation of the Honduran Constitution.^[76] Article 102 of the Honduran Constitution forbids expatriating or handing over of Hondurans to foreign countries.^[77][78][79]

Following the coup trends of decreasing poverty and extreme poverty were reversed. The nation saw a poverty increase of 13.2 percent and in extreme poverty of 26.3 percent in just 3 years.^[80] Furthermore, unemployment grew between 2008 and 2012 from 6.8 percent to 14.1 percent.^[80]

Return to Honduras

On 21 September 2009, Zelaya and his wife arrived at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa. Zelaya said that to reach the embassy he travelled through mountains for fifteen hours, and took back roads to avoid checkpoints. Zelaya did not state from which country he entered Honduras. Hundreds of Zelaya's supporters surrounded the Brazilian embassy. Zelaya chanted "Restitution, Fatherland or Death!" to his supporters, raising fears^[who?] that Zelaya was attempting a violent confrontation.^{[81][82][83][84]}

Michelletti initially denied that Zelaya had returned, but later admitted he had. Michelletti added that the return "changes nothing of our reality". Michelletti later issued a state of emergency with a curfew and asked the Brazilian government to put Zelaya in Honduran custody for trial. Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorim stated that Brazil did not aid Zelaya's return. Security Vice-Minister Mario Perdomo ordered checkpoints on the highways leading to Tegucigalpa, to "stop those people coming to start trouble".^[85] Defense Minister Lionel Sevilla also suspended all air flights to Tegucigalpa.^[81][82][83]

Costa Rican President Óscar Arias and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged both sides to begin a dialogue toward a peaceful solution^[81] and Eulogio Chavez, leader of a 60,000-member teachers union, announced that his organization would go on strike to back Zelaya.^[81] Shortly thereafter, Zelaya claimed that Israeli mercenaries had installed a mobile phone jammer.^{[where?][86][87]}

On 27 September 2009 Honduras gave Brazil a ten-day deadline. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva replied that he would ignore the deadline. "Brazil will not comply with an ultimatum from a government of coup-mongers".^[88] Lula said. Honduran interim president Roberto Micheletti warned that his government would take action if Brazil did not determine Zelaya's status soon. President Lula requested an apology.^[88] Hundreds of Honduran soldiers and Police Officers surrounded the Brazilian embassy, where protests against the coup continued.

On 29 October 2009, the government of "de facto" president Roberto Micheletti signed what United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called a "historic agreement" to let Manuel Zelaya serve the remaining three months of his term. "If Congress agrees", according to Elisabeth Malkin of The New York Times, "control of the army would shift to the electoral court, and the presidential election set for 29 Nov. would be recognized by both sides. Neither Mr. Zelaya nor Mr. Micheletti will be candidates".^[89]

When Micheletti announced he had, unilaterally, formed the unity government without input from Zelaya, Zelaya declared the agreement "dead" early on 6 November.^[90] The United States sent diplomats to help to resurrect the pact,^[91] but Zelaya insisted that he would not accept any deal to restore him to office if it meant he must recognize the elections of 29 November.^[92]

Presidential election of 29 November 2009

Main article: 2009 Honduran general election

On 29 November 2009, a presidential election was held under a state of emergency declared in Decree PCM-M-030-2009.^[93][94][95] According to the decree, the Secretary of State of the 'de facto' government was expected to participate in the military command for this state of emergency.^[93] Five of the six presidential candidates retained their candidacies, while Carlos H. Reyes had withdrawn his candidacy on 9 November in protest at what he perceived as illegitimacy of the election.^[96][97][98] Zelaya called for a boycott of the poll. Some Hondurans interviewed by Associated Press said that they "sought to move past the crisis with the elections", which had been scheduled previous to Zelaya's removal.^[99] Early returns indicated that conservative Porfirio Lobo was elected with around 55% of the votes.^[100] Official numbers for the turnout of the election falsely placed it at around 60%,^[101][102] but subsequently revised the numbers to 49% turnout.^[103]

Organisations and individuals in Honduras, including the National Resistance Front against the coup d'état in Honduras,^[104] Marvin Ponce of the Democratic Unification Party,^[104] and Bertha Oliva of COFADEH,^[105] and internationally, including Mercosur,^[106] President Cristina Kirchner of Argentina^[106] and the Union of South American Nations,^[107] said that elections held on 29 November under Micheletti would not be legitimate.

On 2 December, the National Congress began debate regarding the possible reinstatement of Zelaya to the presidency.^[108]

On 4 December, Juan Barahona-led activists ended five months of daily protests demanding the reinstatement of Zelaya, saying they were moving on now that Congress has voted to keep Manuel Zelaya out of office. Juan Barahona, who had been leading protests since late June when Zelaya was forced out of the country, said that his supporters are "closing that chapter" of their struggle. Barahona said it was time for Hondurans who support policies in favor of the poor and other themes that Zelaya espoused to shift their focus to the 2014 elections.^[109]

Exile

On 20 January 2010, the Dominican Republic and Honduran President-elect Lobo agreed to a deal that would allow Zelaya to be transported safely from the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa where he had been, to the Dominican Republic upon Lobo taking office on 27 January. Lobo stated that he would ensure Zelaya would leave safely and "with dignity."^[110][111] Lobo negotiated with Dominican President Leonel Fernández. Lobo also discussed the situation with former presidential candidates, who signed onto a joint statement on the agreement, which also requested that sanctions against Honduras as a result of the coup be lifted.^[112] The next day, Zelaya agreed to the deal. A close advisor said Zelaya would remain politically active and hoped to later return to political activity.^[113][114]

Zelaya left Honduras on 27 January 2010 for the Dominican Republic, along with his wife, two children, and President Fernández of the Dominican Republic.^[7] Zelaya and his family lived in the Dominican Republic until his return in 2011.^[115] Several countries in the region continued to consider Zelaya the legitimate Honduran head of state.^[116]

Return from exile

Honduran President Porforio Lobo met with Zelaya in Cartagena, Colombia on 22 May 2011. They both signed an agreement that allowed Zelaya to return to Honduras from exile.^[117] Six days later, on 28 May, Zelaya flew back to Honduras aboard a Conviasa jet and was greeted by thousands of his supporters at the airport.^[118][119] He gave a conciliatory speech that called for political reconciliation and increased democracy in the country.^[118]

Role of the United States

In 2015 and 2016, emails by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were released subsequent to disputes over the Secretary's use of private email accounts for government communications. Some critics have argued that, despite President Obama's public support for Zelaya and condemnation of the coup, these communications suggest that the Secretary of State Clinton seemed more interested in ensuring that previously scheduled elections for the new president proceeded in November, rather than taking a strong stand insisting that Zelaya be restored in the meantime. Zelaya himself has criticized both Clinton and the Obama administration, saying, "On the one hand, they condemned the coup, but on the other hand, they were negotiating with the leaders of the coup."^{[120][121][122]}

First Gentleman of Honduras

Upon his wife's inauguration as President Zelaya became the first First Gentleman in Honduran history.

See also

•   Honduras portal

Notes

1. Manuel Zelaya was deposed on 28 June 2009 and the National Congress swore in Roberto Micheletti.
2. Zelaya narrowly won the election after a blitz of advertising against the front-runner National party candidate, Pepe Lobo, by the American entrepreneur Allen Andersson. Andersson estimated that he spent $2 million to influence the outcome of the 2005 election.^[20][21]

References

1. "Manuel Zelaya, en un sainete bananero". ABC. Spain. 5 July 2009. from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
2. Encyclopædia Britannica, Manuel Zelaya 26 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
3. Gott, Richard (29 June 2009). "Honduras: Back to the bad old days?". The Guardian. from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
4. . AS/COA Online. 12 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
5. "Americas group suspends Honduras". BBC. 5 July 2009. from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
6. "Ousted leader returns to Honduras". BBC News. 21 September 2009. from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
7. "Zelaya goes into exile in Dominican Republic". Los Angeles Times. 28 January 2010. from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
8. "Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency". from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
9. "Xiomara Castro poised to become first female president of Honduras". the Guardian. 29 November 2021. from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
10. "Honduras set for first female president as Castro holds wide lead". www.aljazeera.com. from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
11. Rigoberto Padilla Rush. Memorias de un comunista. [1] Página 406
12. Cuando las Segovias lloraron sangre: La odisea de la familia Moncada. Juan Moncada.
13. Para la casa más que para el mundo: sufragismo y feminismo en la historia de... Rina Villars (página 473)
14. "Manuel Zelaya". Encyclopædia Britannica. from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
15. Constitution of Honduras, Article 301
16. "Zelaya hometown provides look at divided Honduras". The Guardian. London. 7 July 2009. from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
17. . Poder. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
18. [2] 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine "ASJ", 6 October 2009
19. . U.C. San Diego Library. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
20. Roig-Franzia, Manuel (14 July 2009). "Allen Andersson Struck It Rich, and Then Struck Out in Honduran Politics". The Washington Post. from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
21. von Bismarck, Alexander "Sascha" (30 July 2009). "Behind the Scenes of a Honduran Undercover Video". The Washington Post. from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
22. Cunha Filho, Clayton M.; Luiz Coelho, André; Pérez Flores, Fidel I. (2013). "A right-to-left policy switch? An analysis of the Honduran case under Manuel Zelaya". International Political Science Review. 34 (5): 519–542. doi:10.1177/0192512112468918. S2CID 145065446. from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
23. . www.bloomberg.com. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
24. Leonard, Thomas M. (20 January 2011). The History of Honduras – Thomas M. Leonard – Google Books. ISBN 9780313363047. from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
25. Upside Down World (21 September 2009). "The Road to Zelaya's Return: Money, Guns and Social Movements in Honduras". from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
26. Xiomara Zelaya, New Statesman, 17 September 2009, My father has been punished for helping Honduras 3 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
27. IPS, October 2008, op cit., about 2/3 of the way down. Retrieved July 2009.
28. "Honduras: Government advertising allocation as 'subtle censorship'", IPS via Soros Foundation and Open Society Justice Initiative, October 2008. Retrieved July 2009.
29. "In Honduras, One-sided News of Crisis" 2 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Washington Post, 9 July 2009. Retrieved July 2009.
30. "Honduras new government is censoring journalists", The Miami Herald, 1 July 2009. Retrieved July 2009 Archived 26 July 2009 at WebCite
31. . Access my library. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
32. Grant, Will (25 May 2007). "Honduras TV gets government order". BBC News. from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
33. "Journalist murdered following threats, government harassment of critical radio station". International Freedom of Expression Exchange. 19 October 2007. from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
34. . Centro de Estudios Internacionales de Barcelona. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
35. "Honduras". US State Department. 11 March 2008. from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
36. "Honduras heads toward crisis over referendum" 29 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press. Yahoo!! News , 26 June 2009. Retrieved July 2009.
37. . El Universal. 8 September 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009.
38. . FBI. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
39. [3] 31 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
40. Redaccion. . Diario El Heraldo de Honduras. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
41. , Carin Zissis, Council of the Americas, 28 June 2009; the interview was conducted with the newspaper El País.
42. 21st Century Socialism Comes to the Honduran Banana Republic 8 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Council on Hemispheric Affairs
43. Dangl, Benjamin (21 September 2009). "The Road to Zelaya's Return: Money, Guns and Social Movements in Honduras". Upside Down World. from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
44. . Honduras.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
45. . 29 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010.
46. Cuevas, Freddy (26 June 2009). . Yahoo!. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
47. De Córdoba, José (26 June 2009). "Honduras lurches toward crisis over election". The Wall Street Journal. from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
48. "Honduran leader defies top court". BBC News. 26 June 2009. from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
49. The quote and other material are from "Militares se despliegan en capital hondureña en medio de agitación politica", La Tribuna, 25 June 2009. Retrieved July 2009.^{[dead link]}
50. "Honduras president: Nation calm before controversial vote" 28 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine CNN, 27 June 2009. Retrieved July 2009.
51. Oppenheimer, Andres (27 June 2009). "ALBA bloc leaders' main obsession: indefinite rule". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2009.^{[dead link]}
52. O'Grady (29 June 2009). "Honduras Defends Its Democracy". The Wall Street Journal. from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
53. Luhnow, David (27 June 2009). "Honduras crisis opens regional rift". The Wall Street Journal. from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
54. Lacey, Marc (2 July 2009). "Leader's Ouster Not a Coup, Says the Honduran Military". The New York Times. from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
55. . El Heraldo. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
56. Flores, Alex (28 June 2009). . El Heraldo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
57. "Secretary: Soldiers arrest Honduran president". Yahoo!. Associated Press. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.^{[dead link]}
58. Cuevas, Freddy; Weissert, Will (28 June 2009). "Honduran military sends president into exile". Toronto Star. Associated Press. from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
59. Spanish Interview with the legal counsel of the Honduran armed forces, Colonel Herberth Bayardo Inestroza, Dada, Carlos; José Luis Sanz (2 July 2009). (in Spanish). El Faro.net. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
60. English summary of interview with the legal counsel of the Honduras armed forces, Robles, Frances (3 July 2009). "Top Honduran military lawyer: We broke the law". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
61. "Exiled Zelaya insists he is rightful Honduran president". Yahoo!. Agence France-Presse. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.^{[dead link]}
62. "Honduran president calls arrest a 'kidnapping'". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.^{[dead link]}
63. Weissert, Will; Cuevas, Freddy (28 June 2009). . Yahoo!. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 July 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
64. Pearson, Frederic S.; Walker, Scott; Stern, Stephanie (2007), "Military Intervention and the Question of Democratization and Inter-Ethnic Peace", Governance, Conflict Analysis and Conflict Resolution, Ian Randle Publishers, p. 252, ISBN 9789766372590, from the original on 21 March 2023, retrieved 5 October 2020
65. Bremer, Catherine; Kerry, Frances (28 June 2009). "Q+A: Honduras president ousted in military coup". Reuters. from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
66. "BBC News - New Honduran leader sets curfew". 29 June 2009. from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
67. Mohammed, Arshad; Alexander, David (29 June 2009). "Obama says coup in Honduras is illegal". Reuters. from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
68. Miller, Sunlen (29 June 2009). . ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
69. . Archived from the original on 18 January 2010.
70. Booth, William (30 June 2009). "Two Hondurans Headed for Clash". The Washington Post. from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
71. Lacey, Marc (30 June 2009). "U.N. Backs Ousted Honduran Leader". The New York Times. from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
72. "UN backs Honduras leader's return". BBC News. 30 June 2009. from the original on 1 July 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
73. . La Prensa. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009.
74. . Honduras News. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
75. . El Heraldo. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009.
76. "National Exclusive...Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, Wife of Ousted Honduran President, Calls on US to Aid Her Husband's Return Home: "We Want Justice, We Want Peace, We Demand the Return to Democracy"". Democracy Now!. 27 July 2009. from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
77. "Republic of Honduras: Political Constitution of 1982 through 2005 reforms; Article 102". Political Database of the Americas (in Spanish). Georgetown University. from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
78. . La Prensa (in Spanish). Honduras. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
79. (PDF). El Heraldo. Honduras. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
80. Johnston, Jake, and Stephan Lefebvre. "Honduras Since the Coup: Economic and Social Outcomes." Center for Economic and Policy Research, Nov. 2013.
81. . Archived from the original on 25 September 2009.
82. "AFP: Clinton, Arias: Zelaya could help end Honduras crisis". Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
83. Malkin, Elisabeth (21 September 2009). " Ousted Leader Returns to Honduras" 30 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times
84. . Archived from the original on 21 October 2009.
85. The Associated Press (22 September 2009). "Ousted Honduran leader makes defiant return". from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
86. Ordaz, Pablo (24 September 2009). "Mercenarios israelíes, ultrasonidos y suicidios fingidos". El País (in Spanish). from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
87. Malkin, Elisabeth; Lacey, Marc (25 September 2009). "Battle for Honduras Echoes Loudly in Media". The New York Times. from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
88. Reuters Editorial (27 September 2009). "Honduras spurns OAS, vows to close Brazil embassy". Reuters. from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
89. Thompson, Ginger; Malkin, Elisabeth (31 October 2009). "Deal Set to Restore Ousted Honduran President". The New York Times. from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
90. "Deal over Honduran crisis 'dead'". BBC. 6 January 2009. from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
91. . Yahoo!. Associated Press. 11 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
92. . Yahoo!. Associated Press. 15 November 2009. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
93. Centro de Investigación y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos (November 2009). "Gaceta No 21,069 Decreto estado de emergencia nacional proceso electoral 2009". Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
94. "Honduran Presidential Elections 29 November: Basic Conditions for Free and Fair Elections Do Not Exist" (PDF). Latin America Working Group. November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
95. Giordano, Al (24 November 2009). "Honduras Coup Regime Declares New State of Emergency Prior to Sunday "Election"". Narco News. from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
96. "BBC Mundo - América Latina - Honduras: piden boicotear las elecciones". from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
97. . La Tiempo (in Spanish). Honduras. 8 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
98. . La Tribuna (in Spanish). Honduras. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
99. . Yahoo News. Associated Press. 29 November 2009. Archived from the original on 1 December 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
100. . Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
101. "Honduras voting for new president". BBC News. 29 November 2009. from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
102. . Yahoo!. Associated Press. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 1 December 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
103. . Agence France-Presse. 5 December 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
104. . Xinhua News Agency. 6 November 2009. Archived from the original on 9 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
105. . Center for Economic and Policy Research. 5 November 2009. Archived from the original on 20 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
106. "Mercosur warns it rejects any attempt to call new elections in Honduras". Mercopress. 25 July 2009. from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
107. "Union of South American Nations rejects elections under Honduran de facto regime". Guelph Mercury/AP/The Canadian Press. 10 August 2009. from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
108. . Yahoo!. Associated Press. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009. A vast majority of the lawmakers voted against Zelaya's reinstatement. Of the 128 members of congress, 111 voted against the reinstatement; only 15 voted in favor.
109. . Yahoo!. Associated Press. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
110. "D.R., Honduras reach deal on Zelaya". The Washington Times. from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
111. "UPDATE 2-Zelaya says may leave Honduras at end of mandate". Reuters. 21 January 2010. from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
112. "Honduran president-elect promises to safeguard Zelaya to leave for Dominican Republic". from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
113. "Zelaya to leave Honduras next week says adviser". Reuters. 21 January 2010. from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
114. Malkin, Elisabeth (22 January 2010). "Honduras: Ousted President Agrees to Leave". The New York Times. from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
115. . Public Radio International. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010.
116. Neue Putschgerüchte 17 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, junge Welt, 14 June 2010 (German).
117. Honduras Deal a Watershed Moment for Latin America Honduras Weekly, 26 May 2011. 29 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
118. Zelaya Ends Self-Exile and Returns to Honduras Honduras Weekly, 29 May 2011. 1 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
119. Zelaya Returns to Honduras Almost 2 Years After Ouster 18 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine Latin America Herald Tribune, 28 May 2011.
120. "Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya Lays the Post-2009 Coup Events At Feet of Secretary Clinton". Daily Kos. from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
121. "The Hillary Clinton Emails and the Hondurass Coup". Common Dreams. from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
122. "VIDEO: Full Interview with Former Honduras Pres. Manuel Zelaya, Ousted in U.S.-Backed Coup". Democracy Now!. from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manuel Zelaya.

 

Wikiquote has quotations related to Manuel Zelaya.

• Biography by CIDOB Foundation (in Spanish)
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Manuel Zelaya collected news and commentary at The New York Times

Political offices
Preceded by Ricardo Maduro	President of Honduras 2006–2009	Succeeded by Roberto Micheletti Acting
Party political offices
Preceded by Rafael Pineda Ponce	Liberal nominee for President of Honduras 2005	Succeeded by Elvin Santos
New political party	Leader of Libre 2011–present	Incumbent
Honorary titles
Preceded by Ana García Carías as First Lady	First Gentleman of Honduras 2022–present	Current holder