Crime-busting businessman heads for election win

A businessman with a zero tolerance anti-crime policy appeared to be heading for victory today in Honduras’ presidential election, over a former teacher who promised better education.

The first official vote tallies from yesterday’s election showed businessman and Nationalist Party candidate Ricardo Maduro leading with 48.7% to 47% for rival Rafael Pineda of the ruling Liberal Party, with 1.5% of votes counted.

A sample count of paper vote tallies at about 7% of precincts by Televicentro, the nation’s largest television network, showed Maduro winning by a much wider margin, however, as did exit polls.

Televicentro, reported that an exit poll by Mediciones Sociales showed Maduro favoured by 56.6% of the 92,000 voters interviewed. Pineda had 38.94%. The stations did not give a margin of error.

Maduro, 54, whose own son was killed by gunmen in 1997 - had built a comfortable lead in polls with his campaign slogan, A Safe Future, and promised to implement a New York City-style zero tolerance programme on crime.

He said he was inspired by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s anti-crime measures.

If early results hold, Maduro is expected to target, in part, the tens of thousands of gang members who frequently stage turf battles and deal drugs.

Cheering, horn-honking caravans of Maduro’s supporters celebrated in the streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, waving blue Nationalist banners. Maduro declared victory, saying: ‘‘The people voted for a profound reform.’’

Violence leading up to the elections - a congressional candidate was killed on Friday and a political party headquarters targeted by a gunman on Saturday - underscored the central issue - what to do with a generation of young Hondurans who have grown up amid crime and poverty.

A team of international observers reported after polls closed that the voting had been peaceful and without major incidents.

The Liberal Party, led by President Carlos Flores, has had to govern through some of the roughest times in the history of the Central American country of 6.5 million.

Hurricane Mitch hit the country in 1998, killing thousands and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Pineda, a 71-year-old former teacher and current head of the country’s congress, said he wanted ‘‘to make Honduras one big school’’ and offered to improve public services with money gained by cracking down on tax evaders.

But Saida Burgos - a 47-year-old housewife who has been robbed three times at knife and gunpoint - voted for Maduro because of his anti-crime programme.

‘‘Who is going to invest here, if they’re afraid of getting robbed?’’ Burgos said.