Costa Rica Elects Populist Successor, Backing Hardline Security Agenda Amid Crime Surge
San José, Costa Rica – Voters in Costa Rica have decisively chosen Laura Fernández as their next president, propelling the conservative populist and anointed successor of incumbent Rodrigo Chaves into office. Preliminary results from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, with over 96% of ballots counted, show Fernández securing 48.3% of the vote, a commanding lead over her main rival, economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, who garnered 33.4%.
The 39-year-old former planning and presidency minister is set to assume a four-year term in May, after Ramos conceded defeat on election night. Her victory underscores a continued rightward shift in a region where security concerns increasingly trump traditional political allegiances.
Fernández’s campaign was a direct continuation of President Chaves’s agenda, which has upended Costa Rica’s political establishment since 2022. With the constitution barring Chaves from immediate re-election, Fernández positioned herself as the guardian of his legacy, centering her platform on an unyielding response to a dramatic spike in violent crime. Homicide rates have soared by approximately 50% over the past six years, fueled by expanding gang operations and drug trafficking networks.
"My hand won’t shake when it comes to making the decisions we need to restore peace in Costa Rican homes," Fernández asserted during the campaign. Her proposed security strategy includes deepening cooperation with U.S. agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and enacting tougher penalties for organized crime. In a controversial move echoing Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s playbook, she has floated plans to construct a dedicated high-security prison for gang leaders.
The election result signals public endorsement for a more authoritarian approach to governance in a country long celebrated for its stable democracy and pacifist tradition. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to congratulate Fernández, expressing confidence that under her leadership, the two nations would "continue to advance shared priorities" including combating drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
In her victory speech, Fernández struck a unifying tone, urging the nation to move past partisan divisions. "I hope that we can immediately lower the flags of whichever political party and start working only in favor of the Costa Rican flag," she said. "I believe the Costa Rican people expect nothing less of us."
Reaction & Analysis
Dr. Elena Rojas, Political Analyst at University of Costa Rica: "This isn't just a change of personnel; it's a consolidation of a new political model here. Chaves broke the mold, and Fernández's win suggests a significant portion of the electorate is willing to trade some democratic checks for perceived security gains. The long-term institutional impact will be profound."
Carlos Méndez, Small Business Owner in San José: "Finally! We have been living in fear, watching our peaceful country be taken over by drug gangs. Ramos and the old parties had decades to fix this and did nothing. Fernández and Chaves are the first to actually talk about the problem we face every day. Her plans are tough, but they are necessary."
Isabela Vega, Human Rights Advocate: "This is a dark day for Costa Rican democracy. We are blindly following the dangerous path of Bukele in El Salvador, where mass incarceration and erosion of due process are sold as 'security.' Fernández's prison proposal is a gimmick that violates fundamental rights. The previous administration already weakened oversight, and she will finish the job, all while ignoring root causes like inequality."
Michael T. Boyd, Americas Analyst at Stratfor Advisory: "Geopolitically, this solidifies Costa Rica's alignment with U.S. security interests and the bloc of right-leaning governments in the region. Fernández's win provides continuity for Washington on key issues like migration control and counter-narcotics, but it also deepens the ideological fracture within Latin America."