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Laura Fernández Wins Costa Rica Presidency in First-Round Victory

The 39-year-old ally of outgoing president Rodrigo Chaves centered her campaign on El Salvador–style emergency powers to confront narcotrafficking.

Overview

  • With about 88% of polling stations tallied, the electoral tribunal showed Fernández just over 48% of the vote, clearing the threshold to avoid a runoff.
  • Social Democrat Álvaro Ramos conceded and offered conditional support for policies he considers in the national interest.
  • Final results for the 57-seat legislature from the concurrent vote are still pending, leaving the governing party’s majority prospects uncertain.
  • Fernández pledged to consider emergency measures modeled on El Salvador, including temporary suspension of some constitutional guarantees, to tackle drug gangs.
  • Public security has deteriorated as Costa Rica shifted from a transit route to a logistics hub for cartels, contributing to rising homicide rates.