Image: from Ashok Swain X@ashoswai
By Open Chronicle Staff
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — In a resounding victory that cements a rightward shift in Central American politics, conservative populist Laura Fernández has been elected the next president of Costa Rica. The 39-year-old political scientist secured 48.3% of the vote in Sunday’s general election, comfortably surpassing the 40% threshold required to avoid a runoff.
Fernández, the handpicked successor of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, defeated her nearest rival, economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party (PLN), who garnered 33.4%.
The “Continuity of Change”
Running under the banner of the Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO), Fernández campaigned on a platform of “continuity of change,” promising to deepen the aggressive institutional reforms and confrontational political style initiated by her mentor.
“Costa Rica has voted for the continuity of a path that seeks to rescue our democratic institutions and return them to the sovereign people,” Fernández told cheering supporters at her victory rally in San José. “The process of change is now irreversible.”
Her victory was further bolstered by a strong showing in the Legislative Assembly, where her party is projected to secure 31 of the 57 seats. This legislative majority will grant Fernández significantly more power than Chávez possessed, potentially allowing her to overhaul judicial appointments and push through structural state reforms.
🚨 BREAKING: Right-wing populist Laura Fernández WINS presidential election for Costa Rica — her platform emulating that of El Salvador President NAYIB BUKELE
She pledged to build her own CECOT to lock up countless criminals like Bukele did
THE RIGHT-WING IS RISING! 🇺🇸🇨🇷 pic.twitter.com/tafTcitiQH
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 2, 2026
A “Bukele-Style” Security Strategy
The defining issue of the campaign was a historic surge in violent crime and drug-related turf wars, which have seen murder rates in the traditionally peaceful nation jump by 50% in recent years.
To combat this, Fernández has proposed a hardline security strategy inspired by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Her plans include:
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The “Mega-Prison”: Construction of a maximum-security facility modeled after El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center.”
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Mandatory Labor: New laws requiring prison labor for convicted criminals and stiffer sentencing.
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States of Emergency: The declaration of “states of exception” in high-density areas currently controlled by drug gangs.
President Bukele was notably the first foreign leader to call and congratulate Fernández on her victory.
Concerns Over Democratic “Drift”
While many voters see Fernández as the only leader capable of taming the cartels, critics and opposition leaders expressed concern about the potential for executive overreach. Former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Óscar Arias warned during the election that the “survival of democracy” was at stake, alluding to fears that the new administration might seek constitutional changes to allow for consecutive presidential re-election.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended his congratulations on Monday, expressing confidence that under Fernández’s leadership, Costa Rica would remain a key partner in “combating narco-trafficking, ending illegal immigration, and strengthening economic ties.”
As she prepares to take office in May, Fernández becomes only the second woman to lead the country. She faces the daunting task of balancing her “iron fist” security promises with the economic and social stability that has long made Costa Rica an “oasis” in a volatile region.