Overview
- Roughly 3.7 million citizens are choosing a president and 57 legislators, with polls open for 12 hours from 6 a.m. local time and preliminary results expected around 9 p.m.
- The latest University of Costa Rica survey puts Fernández near 44% support, above the 40% needed to avoid an April 5 runoff, though about 26% of voters remain undecided.
- Her platform centers on completing a Bukele-style mega-prison, imposing tougher sentences, and declaring states of emergency in high-violence areas.
- Rising drug-related crime has pushed homicides to about 17 per 100,000 inhabitants as Costa Rica grows into a key cocaine transit corridor.
- Opponents and analysts warn a sweeping win, including a strong legislative bloc, could usher in an authoritarian-leaning shift after President Rodrigo Chaves’ confrontations with courts and independent media.