Honduran mayor confirms ex‑defence minister José Manuel Zelaya hired as regidor adviser

Mayor Juan Diego Zelaya of the Central District confirmed that former defence minister José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is now serving as an adviser for Regiduría 5 of the Libertad y Refundación (Libre) party in the municipal council. Zelaya said the appointment was made using the budget line assigned to the regidor’s office and that each regidor has full autonomy to select support staff, with no municipal interference.

He also noted that the municipal administration has reduced payroll expenses by 17 million lempiras, redirecting the savings to priority projects such as the San José dam and road‑pothole repairs. The hiring follows Zelaya’s resignation after a scandal involving his father, former congress secretary Carlos Zelaya, and alleged drug‑trafficker contacts, which led both to step down in September 2024.