# Manuel Zelaya

_Honduran politician and businessman (born 1952)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/manuel-zelaya
Last updated: 2026-11-06

> José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a Honduran politician who served as the 35th president of Honduras from 2006 until his forcible removal in the 2009 coup d'état; and as the inaugural first gentleman of Honduras from 2022 until 2026. He is the eldest son of a wealthy businessman, and inherited his father's nickname "Mel". Before entering politics he was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 20 September 1952 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Catacamas ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Honduras ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P106))
- **Political party:** Liberal Party of Honduras; Liberty and Refoundation ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P102))
- **Spouse:** Xiomara Castro ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Honduras (27 January 2006 – 28 June 2009); Member of the Honduran Congress ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of Francisco Morazán ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060#P166))

## Questions

**When was Manuel Zelaya born?**  
Manuel Zelaya was born on 20 September 1952 in Catacamas.

**What positions has Manuel Zelaya held?**  
Positions held by Manuel Zelaya include: President of Honduras (2006–2009); Member of the Honduran Congress.

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- [Francisco Morazán](https://diginpl.com/people/francisco-morazan)
- [Rafael López Gutiérrez](https://diginpl.com/people/rafael-lopez-gutierrez)
- [José Justo Milla](https://diginpl.com/people/jose-justo-milla)
- [Florencio Xatruch](https://diginpl.com/people/florencio-xatruch)
- [Oswaldo López Arellano](https://diginpl.com/people/oswaldo-lopez-arellano)
- [Carlos Roberto Flores](https://diginpl.com/people/carlos-roberto-flores)
- [Policarpo Bonilla](https://diginpl.com/people/policarpo-bonilla)
- [Nasry Asfura](https://diginpl.com/people/nasry-asfura)
- [Xiomara Castro](https://diginpl.com/people/xiomara-castro)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Manuel Zelaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Zelaya) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q191060](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191060) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Manuel Zelaya 2022.jpg by 總統府 (CC BY 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manuel_Zelaya_2022.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Manuel Zelaya, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Manuel Zelaya 2022.jpg — 總統府, CC BY 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Manuel Zelaya". DigiNepal. Last updated 6 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/manuel-zelaya. Retrieved 7 November 2026.