Peace Agreements Database

Honduras coup d’état (2009)

In 2009, the president of Honduras, Jose Manuel Zelaya, planned a referendum on the subject of creating a constituent assembly to decide on constitutional reforms. His plan found broad support among the civil society, trade unions and peasants, hoping for a more participatory democracy. But on 28 June 2009, the Honduran Supreme Court ordered to send the president to exile and sent the Honduran Army, capturing Zelaya the same day. Instead of facing a trial, he was flown to Costa Rica, while the Honduran Congress voted to remove him from office.
On the international level, this coup d’état was criticized, also by the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization of American States, who later voted to suspend Honduras from the organization. The Honduras Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated in 2011 that the removal of president Zelaya had been unconstitutional, also was the interim government which followed the coup.