Government

Honduras’s weak public institutions have made it increasingly susceptible to lawlessness, including the smuggling of arms, drugs, and people.  Corruption is widespread, undermining prospects for broad-based growth and a strong responsive democracy.

Since winning its independence from Spain in 1821, Honduras has been plagued by nearly 300 internal rebellions, civil wars, and changes of government - more than half occurring during the 20th Century.  The democratic tradition was established in the early 1980s—when decades of military rule ended. In January 2006, José Manuel Zelaya Rosales was sworn in as president of Honduras for a four year term ending in January 2010.