Honduras set for first woman president as ruling party concedes election defeat

A man eats by a newspaper stand that displays a cover story on the preliminary results of the general election in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, November 29, 2021. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) -Honduras' conservative ruling party candidate late on Tuesday conceded defeat in the presidential election, paving the way for his leftist rival Xiomara Castro to become the first female leader of the struggling Central American country.

Calling Castro "president elect," National Party contender Nasry Asfura said he had visited his opponent at her family home to offer his congratulations for winning Sunday's vote, in a move that will end his group's 12-year hold on power.