Villeda Would Build on Social Legacy of Villeda Morales

I would only try to ensure that the example of Villeda Morales be followed. Nothing different. Simply continue with his social reforms. The Liberal Party is a party based on social liberalism. The reforms of Villeda Morales are precisely that social liberalism. And I think that we should continue to emphasize this... education, health, security, jobs are extremely important for any government.

-Mauricio Villeda

Honduras Weekly
On January 28, 2012, Honduran novelist and journalist César Indiano conducted an interview for Maya TV in Tegucigalpa with Liberal presidential candidate Mauricio Villeda. The interview on the program Izquierda Derecha (Left Right) focused on the history of Ramón Villeda Morales, who served as President of Honduras from 1957-1963. Mauricio Villeda is the fourth of six sons of Ramón Villeda Morales and Alejandrina de Villeda Morales. He recently launched his campaign to win the Liberal Party's nomination to run for the Presidency of Honduras in 2014. César Indiano writes a weekly editorial column for La Prensa. With his permission, Honduras Weekly occasionally translates and publishes his columns. The following is the transcript of an excerpt from the interview, beginning at the 53:26 mark on the video, in which Mr. Villeda is asked what he would do differently from his father were he to become President.

César Indiano: Since you have expressed your desire to govern this country, I would like to ask what things you would do differently from your father in the event you would get to govern Honduras, and what good things you would do for this country, because everyone in Honduras is anxiously awaiting the arrival of politicians who would finally do the correct, good, and wonderful things -- and, in my case... the beautiful things -- because for me, governing signifies doing what is beautiful for a nation. So this is my last question before ending this program. The microphone is yours so you can also say goodbye and tell us if you enjoyed our time together here on Izquierda Derecha.

Mauricio Villeda: Thank you very much. I want take this opportunity to clarify something, because I have heard some people confuse the period in which Villeda Morales died. Villeda Morales was overthrown in 1963, and he died in 1971. At that time, the President of the Republic was Ramón Ernesto Cruz, and Villeda Morales was the Ambassador of Honduras to the United Nations, and that's when he died.

What would I do differently to govern Honduras if those watching give us their vote to gain the top position in the country? Well, I would only try to ensure that the example of Villeda Morales be followed. Nothing different. Simply continue with his social reforms. The Liberal Party is a party based on social liberalism. The reforms of Villeda Morales are precisely that social liberalism. And I think that we should continue to emphasize this... education, health, security, jobs are extremely important for any government. And if you ask any current mayor what it is that the people of his country want, his municipality will say to him there is no clean water, there are no hospitals, there are no medicines.

In other words, it continues to be the basics. But above all else... to combat corruption. Combat corruption, and that we have a completely transparent government... and that we deal with a new crisis that did not exist in the time of Villeda Morales, and that is illegal drug trafficking. We have to fight against narcotrafficking, because in Honduras there are now mayors and members of Congress who are narcotraffickers, and we could eventually get to the point where there are political parties that are controlled by narcotraffickers. So it is something that we must combat with all seriousness and strength... from all parties.

I want to express my tremendous appreciation for the opportunity to be with you.