Dow Jones, a News Corp company

News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services

Dow Jones

News Corp

Subscribe Now Sign In

The Wall Street Journal

Search

Review & Outlook

More Worker Visas for Less Government

Review & Outlook

Navigating ObamaCare

Review & Outlook

French Labor Liberation Day

THE WEEKEND INTERVIEW

The Teachers Union’s Public Enemy No. 1

Best of the Web

How’s He Going to Explain This?

CROSS COUNTRY

L.A. Discovers Historic Preservation, and Promptly Goes Overboard

From Cicero to Trump, They’re All in Plutarch’s ‘Lives’

Business World

When the Truth Is Crazy

DECLARATIONS

The American Spirit Is Alive in Texas

POTOMAC WATCH

Making Growth Great Again

How an Architect Built a Collection

A World That Came in From the Cold

Small

Medium

Large

Save Article

Sign In to Save Subscribe to WSJ

Honduras Defends Its Democracy

Fidel Castro and Hillary Clinton object.

By

Mary Anastasia O'Grady

Updated June 29, 2009 11:59 p.m. ET

Hugo Chávez's coalition-building efforts suffered a setback yesterday when the Honduran military sent its president packing for abusing the nation's constitution.

It seems that President Mel Zelaya miscalculated when he tried to emulate the success of his good friend Hugo in reshaping the Honduran Constitution to his liking.

But Honduras is not out of the Venezuelan woods yet. Yesterday the Central American country...

Most Popular Videos

Most Popular Articles

Popular on WSJ

Most Popular Videos

Most Popular Articles


<!-- share menu -->
<menu class="shareMenu  shareMenu--horizontal">


   <li class="shareMenu__item hide4">
     <a href="#print" class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="print" aria-label="Print" data-sharemenu-track="print">
       <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--print" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 17.6"><path d="M-711-3365v4612H969v-4612H-711zM25 22.6H-5V-5h30v27.6z" fill="none"/><path d="M2.3 14.6h1v3h13.4v-3h1c1.3 0 2.3-1 2.3-2V9c0-1-1-2-2.2-2h-1V3.8l-4-3.8H3.4v7h-1C1 7 0 8 0 9v3.4c0 1.2 1 2.2 2.3 2.2zM12.5.6L16 4.2h-3.5V.8zM4 .7h8.2v4H16V7H4V.7zm0 14h12V17H4v-2.4z"/></svg>
     </a>
   </li>

  <li class="shareMenu__item">
    <a class="shareIcon shareIcon--facebook" data-sharemenu-action="window" data-sharemenu-track="facebook" aria-label="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301" target="_blank">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--facebook" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 10.5 22.5"><path d="M10 11.3H7v11.2H2V11.3H0v-4h2.2V4.7C2.2 3 3.2 0 7 0h3.5v4H8c-.5 0-1 0-1 1v2.3h3.5l-.4 4z"/></svg>
    </a>
  </li>

  <li class="shareMenu__item">
    <a class="shareIcon shareIcon--twitter" data-sharemenu-action="window" data-sharemenu-track="twitter" aria-label="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Honduras%20Defends%20Its%20Democracy&url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301&via=WSJOpinion">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--twitter" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.1 17.4"><path d="M19 4.3V5c0 5.7-4.4 12.4-12.4 12.4-2.4 0-4.7-.7-6.6-2h1c2 0 4-.6 5.4-1.8-2 0-3.5-1.3-4-3h1.8C2.3 10 1 8.2 1 6c.6.2 1.2.4 2 .4-1.2-.7-2-2-2-3.6 0-.8.3-1.6.7-2.2 2 2.7 5.3 4.4 9 4.6-.2-.3-.2-.7-.2-1 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.2 0 2.4.5 3 1.4 1-.2 2-.6 2.8-1-.3 1-1 1.8-2 2.3 1 0 1.8-.3 2.6-.7-.5 1-1.3 1.7-2 2.3"/></svg>
    </a>
  </li>

  <li class="shareMenu__item hide12 hide16">
    <span class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="partial-scrim" data-target="fontScrim" aria-label="Text Resize">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--font" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 18.5 17.5"><path d="M18.2 17.2c-.7 0-.7-.2-1-1.4L14.5 4.2h-.2l-2.7 11.3c-.3 1-.4 1.5-.7 1.7h-.4c-1 0-1-.2-1.3-2L5.6 0h-.3L1.7 14.8C1.2 17 1.2 17 0 17.2v.4h4v-.4h-.4c-1.6 0-1.6-.3-1-2.6L3 12h3.2l.8 3.4c.3 1.4.4 1.6-1 1.7h-.4v.5H13v-.3H13c-1.3 0-1.3-.2-1-2l.4-1.4H15l.5 2c.2 1.2.3 1.4-.8 1.4h-.3v.3h4v-.3h-.2zm-15-6l1.5-6 1.3 6H3.3zm9.4 1.7l1-4.8L15 13h-2.2z"/></svg>
    </span>
  </li>


  <li class="shareMenu__item sharePopup__wrap hide4 hide8">
    <input type="checkbox" class="sharePopup__toggle" id="shareMenuSavePopupSB124623220955866301" data-sharemenu-action="popup">
    <label for="shareMenuSavePopupSB124623220955866301" class="shareIcon shareIcon--save">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--save" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 12 19"><path d="M0 1.653C0 .74.77 0 1.72 0h8.56C11.23 0 12 .745 12 1.653V19l-6-5.542L0 19V1.653z"/></svg>
    </label>
    <div class="sharePopup sharePopup--save">
      <h6 class="shareLabel">Save Article</h6>
      <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/https://accounts.wsj.com/login?target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2FSB124623220955866301" class="shareLink" rel="nofollow">Sign In to Save</a>
      <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/https://subscribe.wsj.com/default" class="shareLink">Subscribe to WSJ</a>
    </div>
  </li>

   <li class="shareMenu__item hide12 hide16">
     <span class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="scrim" data-target="shareScrim">
       <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--more" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21 5"><circle cx="10.5" cy="2.5" r="2.5" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"/><path d="M16 3c.3 1.2 1.3 2 2.5 2C20 5 21 4 21 2.5 21 1 20 0 18.5 0S16 1 16 2.5V3z" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"/><circle cx="2.5" cy="2.5" r="2.5" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"/></svg>
     </span>
   </li>
   <li class="shareMenu__item hide4 hide8 sharePopup__wrap">
     <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301" class="shareIcon" data-sharemenu-action="link" data-sharemenu-wait-for-init="true" data-sharemenu-sync="link" data-sharemenu-track="permalink" aria-label="Copy link">
       <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--link" viewbox="0 0 19 19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 13.7l1.3-1.3-.7-.6a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.3l7.8-7.7a1 1 0 0 1 .6-.3c.2 0 .5 0 .6.3l.7.6L13.6 2l-.7-.5c-1-1-3-1-4 0L1.5 9.2a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 0 3.8l.6.7zm16-7l-.6-.7L16 7.3l.8.6a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.2L9 17A1 1 0 0 1 8 17l-.7-.7-1 1.2.5.7c.5.5 1.2.8 2 .8.7 0 1.3-.3 2-.8l7.6-7.7a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 1-2c0-.7-.4-1.4-1-2m-1.2-5L18 2.8l-6.4 6.4L10.4 8zm-9 9L9 11.8l-6.4 6.4L1.4 17z"/></svg>
     </a>
     <span class="shareFeedback sharePopup sharePopup--oneline" data-sharemenu-isfeedback aria-hidden="true">Link copied…</span>
   </li>

</menu>
<!-- end share menu -->

  <!-- font controls -->
  <div class="shareScrim shareScrim--partial" id="fontScrim" aria-label="Font Size - press Esc to close">
    <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear shareScrim__close" data-sharemenu-action="partial-scrim" data-target="fontScrim" aria-label="close">
      <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--close" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.9 22"><polygon id="XMLID_4_" points="12.2,11 12.2,10.9 21.9,1.2 20.7,0 10.9,9.7 1.2,0 0,1.2 9.7,10.9 9.7,11 9.7,11.1
    0,20.8 1.2,22 10.9,12.3 20.7,22 21.9,20.8 12.2,11.1 "/></svg>
  </span>
    <div class="shareScrim__content fontButtons">
      <span class="shareLabel2">Text Size</span>
  
      <input class="fontButtons__input fontButtons__input--scrim" type="radio" name="fontsize-scrim" value="regular" data-sharemenu-action="fontsize" data-sharemenu-sync="fontsizeregular" data-sharemenu-track="resize" id="fontsize-scrim-regular">
      <label class="fontButtons__label fontButtons__label--scrim" for="fontsize-scrim-regular">
        <div class="fontButton fontButton--small"><svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--fontButton" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 19 25"><path d="M5.406 16.565L4.25 20.8c-.7 2.52-.664 3.15 1.47 3.255l.77.035V25H.54v-.91c1.436-.175 1.68-.385 2.416-2.975L8.8.325h.7l6.3 21.455c.526 1.715.666 2.1 1.89 2.24l.596.07V25h-8.96v-.91l.595-.035c2.73-.175 2.416-.595 1.89-2.485l-1.4-5.005H5.407zm4.725-1.05l-2.24-7.98-2.204 7.98h4.445z"/></svg>
</div>
        Small
      </label>
  
      <input class="fontButtons__input fontButtons__input--scrim" type="radio" name="fontsize-scrim" value="medium" data-sharemenu-action="fontsize" data-sharemenu-sync="fontsizemedium" data-sharemenu-track="resize" id="fontsize-scrim-medium">
      <label class="fontButtons__label fontButtons__label--scrim" for="fontsize-scrim-medium">
        <div class="fontButton fontButton--medium"><svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--fontButton" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 19 25"><path d="M5.406 16.565L4.25 20.8c-.7 2.52-.664 3.15 1.47 3.255l.77.035V25H.54v-.91c1.436-.175 1.68-.385 2.416-2.975L8.8.325h.7l6.3 21.455c.526 1.715.666 2.1 1.89 2.24l.596.07V25h-8.96v-.91l.595-.035c2.73-.175 2.416-.595 1.89-2.485l-1.4-5.005H5.407zm4.725-1.05l-2.24-7.98-2.204 7.98h4.445z"/></svg>
</div>
        Medium
      </label>
  
      <input class="fontButtons__input fontButtons__input--scrim" type="radio" name="fontsize-scrim" value="large" data-sharemenu-action="fontsize" data-sharemenu-sync="fontsizelarge" data-sharemenu-track="resize" id="fontsize-scrim-large">
      <label class="fontButtons__label fontButtons__label--scrim" for="fontsize-scrim-large">
        <div class="fontButton fontButton--large"><svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--fontButton" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 19 25"><path d="M5.406 16.565L4.25 20.8c-.7 2.52-.664 3.15 1.47 3.255l.77.035V25H.54v-.91c1.436-.175 1.68-.385 2.416-2.975L8.8.325h.7l6.3 21.455c.526 1.715.666 2.1 1.89 2.24l.596.07V25h-8.96v-.91l.595-.035c2.73-.175 2.416-.595 1.89-2.485l-1.4-5.005H5.407zm4.725-1.05l-2.24-7.98-2.204 7.98h4.445z"/></svg>
</div>
        Large
      </label>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- end font controls -->

  
  
  
  
  
  
  <!-- scrim share menu -->
  <div class="shareScrim" id="shareScrim" aria-label="Share Menu - press Esc to close">
    <div class="shareScrim__content">
      <menu class="shareScrim__itemlist">
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="#print" class="shareButton" data-sharemenu-action="print" data-sharemenu-track="print" title="Print">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--print" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 17.6"><path d="M-711-3365v4612H969v-4612H-711zM25 22.6H-5V-5h30v27.6z" fill="none"/><path d="M2.3 14.6h1v3h13.4v-3h1c1.3 0 2.3-1 2.3-2V9c0-1-1-2-2.2-2h-1V3.8l-4-3.8H3.4v7h-1C1 7 0 8 0 9v3.4c0 1.2 1 2.2 2.3 2.2zM12.5.6L16 4.2h-3.5V.8zM4 .7h8.2v4H16V7H4V.7zm0 14h12V17H4v-2.4z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Print
          </a>
        </li>
      <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301" data-sharemenu-action="clickthrough" data-sharemenu-track="facebook" class="shareButton shareButton--facebook" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--facebook" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 10.5 22.5"><path d="M10 11.3H7v11.2H2V11.3H0v-4h2.2V4.7C2.2 3 3.2 0 7 0h3.5v4H8c-.5 0-1 0-1 1v2.3h3.5l-.4 4z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Facebook
          </a>
        </li>
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Honduras%20Defends%20Its%20Democracy&url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301&via=WSJOpinion" class="shareButton shareButton--twitter" data-sharemenu-action="clickthrough" data-sharemenu-track="twitter" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--twitter" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.1 17.4"><path d="M19 4.3V5c0 5.7-4.4 12.4-12.4 12.4-2.4 0-4.7-.7-6.6-2h1c2 0 4-.6 5.4-1.8-2 0-3.5-1.3-4-3h1.8C2.3 10 1 8.2 1 6c.6.2 1.2.4 2 .4-1.2-.7-2-2-2-3.6 0-.8.3-1.6.7-2.2 2 2.7 5.3 4.4 9 4.6-.2-.3-.2-.7-.2-1 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.2 0 2.4.5 3 1.4 1-.2 2-.6 2.8-1-.3 1-1 1.8-2 2.3 1 0 1.8-.3 2.6-.7-.5 1-1.3 1.7-2 2.3"/></svg>
          </span>
            Twitter
          </a>
        </li>
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/whatsapp://send/?text=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301" class="shareButton shareButton--whatsapp" data-sharemenu-track="whatsapp" rel="nofollow">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--whatsapp" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20.3 20.4"><path d="M14.8 12.2c-.3 0-1.5-.7-1.7-.8h-.5l-.8 1c0 .3-.3.3-.5.2-.3 0-1-.4-2-1.3-.8-.7-1.3-1.5-1.4-1.7V9l.5-.3.3-.4V8l-1-2c0-.6-.4-.6-.5-.6h-.4c-.2 0-.4 0-.7.3-.3.3-1 1-1 2.2 0 1 1 2.3 1 2.5.2.2 2 2.7 4.4 3.8l1.4.5c.6.2 1.2.2 1.6 0 .5 0 1.5-.5 1.7-1 .3-.7.3-1.2.2-1.3l-.4-.3"/><path class="st0" d="M10.2 18.5c-1.5 0-3-.4-4.3-1.2l-.4-.2-3.2 1 .8-3-.2-.4c-.8-1.3-1.3-3-1.3-4.5 0-4.5 3.8-8.3 8.4-8.3 2.3 0 4.4 1 6 2.5 1.6 1.6 2.5 3.7 2.5 6 0 4.5-3.7 8.3-8.3 8.3m7-15.5c-1.8-2-4.3-3-7-3C4.6 0 .2 4.5.2 10c0 2 .4 3.6 1.2 5L0 20.5 5.4 19c1.5.8 3 1.2 4.8 1.2 5.6 0 10-4.5 10-10 0-2.8-1-5.3-3-7.2"/></svg>
          </span>
            WhatsApp
          </a>
        </li>
  
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/sms:/?&body=http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301" class="shareButton" data-sharemenu-track="sms">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--sms" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 13 21"><path d="M10.717.84h-8c-1.103 0-2 .897-2 2v16c0 1.104.897 2 2 2h8c1.103 0 2-.896 2-2v-16c0-1.104-.897-2-2-2zm-8 4h8v-2h-8v2zm0 10h8v-8h-8v8zm0 4h8v-2h-8v2z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg>
          </span>
            SMS
          </a>
        </li>
  
  
        <li class="shareScrim__item">
          <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170903035644/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124623220955866301" class="shareButton" data-sharemenu-action="link" data-sharemenu-wait-for-init="true" data-sharemenu-sync="link" data-sharemenu-track="permalink">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--link" viewbox="0 0 19 19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 13.7l1.3-1.3-.7-.6a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.3l7.8-7.7a1 1 0 0 1 .6-.3c.2 0 .5 0 .6.3l.7.6L13.6 2l-.7-.5c-1-1-3-1-4 0L1.5 9.2a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 0 3.8l.6.7zm16-7l-.6-.7L16 7.3l.8.6a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.2L9 17A1 1 0 0 1 8 17l-.7-.7-1 1.2.5.7c.5.5 1.2.8 2 .8.7 0 1.3-.3 2-.8l7.6-7.7a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 1-2c0-.7-.4-1.4-1-2m-1.2-5L18 2.8l-6.4 6.4L10.4 8zm-9 9L9 11.8l-6.4 6.4L1.4 17z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Copy Link
          </a>
          <span class="shareFeedback shareMsgBanner" data-sharemenu-isfeedback aria-hidden="true">
            <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear shareIcon--inline shareIcon--gray">
              <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--link" viewbox="0 0 19 19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 13.7l1.3-1.3-.7-.6a1 1 0 0 1 0-1.3l7.8-7.7a1 1 0 0 1 .6-.3c.2 0 .5 0 .6.3l.7.6L13.6 2l-.7-.5c-1-1-3-1-4 0L1.5 9.2a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 0 3.8l.6.7zm16-7l-.6-.7L16 7.3l.8.6a1 1 0 0 1 0 1.2L9 17A1 1 0 0 1 8 17l-.7-.7-1 1.2.5.7c.5.5 1.2.8 2 .8.7 0 1.3-.3 2-.8l7.6-7.7a2.7 2.7 0 0 0 1-2c0-.7-.4-1.4-1-2m-1.2-5L18 2.8l-6.4 6.4L10.4 8zm-9 9L9 11.8l-6.4 6.4L1.4 17z"/></svg>
          </span>
            Link copied …
          </span>
        </li>
  
      </menu>
  
      <span class="shareIcon shareIcon--clear shareScrim__close" data-sharemenu-action="close" data-target="shareScrim" aria-label="close">
        <svg class="shareSVG shareSVG--close" id="Layer_1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 21.9 22"><polygon id="XMLID_4_" points="12.2,11 12.2,10.9 21.9,1.2 20.7,0 10.9,9.7 1.2,0 0,1.2 9.7,10.9 9.7,11 9.7,11.1
      0,20.8 1.2,22 10.9,12.3 20.7,22 21.9,20.8 12.2,11.1 "/></svg>
    </span>
  
    </div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- end scrim share menu -->

Save Article

Honduras Defends Its Democracy

Fidel Castro and Hillary Clinton object.

Most Popular Videos

After Hurricane Harvey, Flooded Houston Neighborhood Considers Its Future

What Heavier U.S. Military Activity in the Pacific Means for North Korea

Deadly Flooding Strikes South Asia

The Science of Why Harvey Was So Devastating

Seven iPhone Tricks to Save You Time

Most Popular Articles

Local Meteorologist Emerges as Unlikely Hero of Harvey

Opinion: The American Spirit Is Alive in Texas

Trump Drafted Letter on Why He Wanted Comey Out

North Korea Says It Has Developed Advanced Hydrogen Bomb

Opinion: The Teachers Union’s Public Enemy No. 1

Popular on WSJ

Most Popular Videos

After Hurricane Harvey, Flooded Houston Neighborhood Considers Its Future

What Heavier U.S. Military Activity in the Pacific Means for North Korea

Deadly Flooding Strikes South Asia

The Science of Why Harvey Was So Devastating

Seven iPhone Tricks to Save You Time

Most Popular Articles

Local Meteorologist Emerges as Unlikely Hero of Harvey

Opinion: The American Spirit Is Alive in Texas

Trump Drafted Letter on Why He Wanted Comey Out

North Korea Says It Has Developed Advanced Hydrogen Bomb

Opinion: The Teachers Union’s Public Enemy No. 1