FEBRUARY 3, 2026 — The National Congress of Honduras has officially marked the start of the 2026–2030 legislative period by reintroducing navy blue tones to the national ensign, effectively reversing the turquoise standard maintained during the administration of former President Xiomara Castro.
According to Honduran newspaper La Prensa, the traditional darker blue flags were displayed alongside the new board of directors during the installation of the first legislature on January 25, presided over by Tomás Zambrano.
This aesthetic shift follows the confirmation of the new legislative leadership on January 23, which also saw the immediate replacement of the Congress’s logo with one featuring the navy blue palette, as reported by El Heraldo.
The transition back to navy blue fulfills a long-standing policy objective of the National Party, which regained legislative influence and the presidency under Nasry “Tito” Asfura.
While the turquoise variant was popularized in 2022 following recommendations from the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) to align with historical 19th-century specifications, the use of navy blue has deep roots in the country’s 20th-century history. The darker shade became the de facto standard during military administrations and the era of Tiburcio Carías Andino, remaining the dominant version until the brief shift to turquoise four years ago.
Despite the visible change in the legislative palace, the legal status of the flag’s hue remains a point of contention among vexillologists and legal scholars. According to El Heraldo, Legislative Decree No. 29 of January 18, 1949, which remains the primary governing text for national symbols, explicitly describes the upper and lower stripes as “turquesa” (turquoise).
Skeptics note that while the National Party has historically preferred the darker “traditional” blue, there has yet to be a formal legislative amendment or new normative decree issued to reconcile the current navy blue usage with the 1949 law.
The inaugural session was further distinguished by a notable departure from previous protocol through the inclusion of a “pro-life” flag within the hemicycle. Positioned in a prominent location, the flag’s presence marked the first time such a symbol has been officially integrated into a solemn opening ceremony of the legislature.
Image: La Prensa
