- News>
- World
Honduras president admits his party took skimmed funds
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez on Wednesday admitted his conservative ruling National Party accepted money that had been misappropriated from Social Security, a scandal that has sparked calls for him to step down.
Tegucigalpa: Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez on Wednesday admitted his conservative ruling National Party accepted money that had been misappropriated from Social Security, a scandal that has sparked calls for him to step down.
"Just like everyone, I am outraged," Hernandez said, pledging investigators would "get to the bottom of all of this."
"I am not sure if it is (the equivalent of $136,000)," Hernandez said, seeking to downplay the amount of the misappropriation from the Honduran Social Security Institute.
The amount pales in comparison to allegations about the scope of the skimming, and who was involved.
Opposition members have charged that the president received about $90 million of more than $300 million they say were skimmed from Social Security for his 2013 campaign.
Poverty-wracked Honduras is also one of the world`s deadliest nations.
Last week, more than 5,000 people marched demanding that the president resign. Marches have been held in smaller cities, and another one is set for Friday in the capital.