00:00And the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández returned to the country this Sunday, July 26,
00:06after the United States President granted him a pardon that ended a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking.
00:13Hernández's return could signal the return of the narco-state.
00:18Gerardo Torres-Elaya reports from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
00:23Hernández was received in Honduras with two massive events by his followers,
00:27one in the airport of Palmerola, another one in Tegucigalpa.
00:30Now the big question is how his return is going to impact the Honduran politics and his party, the National
00:37Party.
00:37Is he going to claim back his role as the leader of the drug cartels and the leader of the
00:42politics in that party?
00:44Or is he going to be just a figure?
00:47He's going to look or not for, again, the Honduran presidency.
00:51It is a rather disheartening situation for Honduras to find itself.
00:56Well into 2026, still discussing Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in a U.S. court four years ago.
01:05It certainly raises serious questions and leaves much to be desired regarding the handling of international politics
01:10and the interpretation of concepts, as the pardon does not erase his past actions.
01:16A presidential pardon granted by Donald Trump does not negate the fact that he was convicted based on substantial proof
01:22and evidence of the harm he caused in Honduras.
01:27After being sentenced to 45 years in prison for using the Honduran state as a tool to traffic more than
01:33400 tons of cocaine to the United States,
01:37Hernández returns to the country today under the protection of the very same Honduran state he used for his criminal
01:43activities
01:48When it seemed like everything was collapsing, she stepped to the forefront with great strength and fortitude qualities born only
01:59of faith in God, our creator.
02:01She stood before the world and declared, Juan Orlando will return.
02:09My children said, Juan Orlando will return.
02:13And my mother prayed the same, as did many of you who said, Juan Orlando Hernández will return.
02:21And today, thanks to your prayers, I have returned to my beautiful land, Honduras.
02:28For the political opposition and the popular resistance, this is a day of other infamy and shame,
02:34and a stark demonstration of the double standards of the United States,
02:38which claims to combat drug trafficking in some countries while protecting it and acting as its principal ally in Honduras.
02:45For us, July 26, 2026, will go down in the history of Honduras as the date when the United States,
02:52supposedly our best friend or partner, returned a highly dangerous criminal to us.
02:57He has been identified as a leading regional drug trafficker who spearheaded cocaine smuggling
03:01responsible for bringing over 400 tons into the U.S., among other charges for which he was indicted and sentenced
03:08to 45 years in prison.
03:10For the rest of Honduras, the big question is, what could be done to stop the narco-state to be
03:17reinstalled again,
03:18and what could be done to put a finish to this involvement, into this participation of the United States in
03:25our interest?
03:26How can Honduras really become independent?
03:29That is the big question in this infamous day of impunity.
03:34For Telesur in English, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Gerardo Torres Zelaya.
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