Laura Fernández Wins Costa Rica Presidency in First Round

Overview

• Preliminary tallies from the electoral authority show Fernández around 48–50% of valid votes, clearing the 40% threshold as Álvaro Ramos trailed near 32–33%, and she becomes the country’s second woman president.
• Projections indicate her Partido Pueblo Soberano will hold roughly 30 of 57 congressional seats, expanding its bloc but likely short of the supermajority needed for unilateral constitutional changes.
• Her platform centers on hardline measures modeled on El Salvador’s approach, including a mega-prison, localized states of exception, and judicial reforms, drawing congratulations from Nayib Bukele.
• Ramos conceded and vowed a constructive opposition, while the TSE praised a free and authentic vote; formal certification continues toward a May 8 inauguration.
• Security dominated the race after a sustained surge in homicides tied to narcotrafficking, and Fernández campaigned as the continuity candidate to President Rodrigo Chaves.