Laura Fernández, a conservative candidate from the Sovereign People's Party, has won the presidential election in Costa Rica. With over 48% of the votes, she secured an insurmountable lead, far ahead of her closest rival Álvaro Ramos. The 39-year-old politician ran on a promise to deepen the tough-on-crime approach of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, who handpicked Fernández as his successor.
Fernández's policies have been shaped by her time as planning minister and other roles, but she is largely seen as the heir to Chaves' style. As president, she aims to maintain close ties with the US, particularly in relation to immigration policy. The Trump administration has previously described Costa Rica as a "key global cocaine transshipment point," which Fernández may seek to address through measures such as declaring a state of emergency.
Costa Rica's election is significant due to concerns about rising crime rates and organized gang activity. While some have criticized Fernández' approach as too tough on crime, she has vowed to prioritize dialogue and national harmony while maintaining firm control over law enforcement.
Fernández will be the second woman to govern Costa Rica after Laura Chinchilla was elected president in 2010. She is expected to maintain a strong relationship with parliament, having won the support of her party by securing 30 out of 57 seats.
As Fernández prepares for office, many are watching closely to see how she will implement her policies and address the pressing issues facing Costa Rica's citizens.
Fernández's policies have been shaped by her time as planning minister and other roles, but she is largely seen as the heir to Chaves' style. As president, she aims to maintain close ties with the US, particularly in relation to immigration policy. The Trump administration has previously described Costa Rica as a "key global cocaine transshipment point," which Fernández may seek to address through measures such as declaring a state of emergency.
Costa Rica's election is significant due to concerns about rising crime rates and organized gang activity. While some have criticized Fernández' approach as too tough on crime, she has vowed to prioritize dialogue and national harmony while maintaining firm control over law enforcement.
Fernández will be the second woman to govern Costa Rica after Laura Chinchilla was elected president in 2010. She is expected to maintain a strong relationship with parliament, having won the support of her party by securing 30 out of 57 seats.
As Fernández prepares for office, many are watching closely to see how she will implement her policies and address the pressing issues facing Costa Rica's citizens.
... like we haven't seen this before. This whole "tough-on-crime" thing is just a fancy way of saying they're going to lock up more people and ignore the real issues 
. And don't even get me started on her plans to declare a state of emergency over immigration... that's just code for "we'll do whatever it takes to keep our borders closed and perpetuate inequality" 
. I'm not convinced she actually cares about dialogue or national harmony, just uses those words as a PR gimmick 
. And let's be real, the fact that she's being touted as some kind of feminist icon is laughable – women have been marginalized and oppressed for centuries, it's not like one politician making a few token promises is going to change anything 
. Time will tell if she actually delivers on her promises or just continues the status quo 
.
maybe it'll help reduce cocaine smuggling or something? 
she's got a tough crime record but maybe that'll help her address the country's issues? 
on the other hand, i love that she's all about dialogue and national harmony - it's so refreshing to see a leader who wants to bring people together 
. also, 30 out of 57 seats is crazy! maybe fernández will surprise us and show us she's not just a carbon copy of chaves 
. I just wasted an hour voting for my favorite candidate in that election thread, only to realize I had clicked the wrong button 
. And now, can't even see who won until someone else posts about it 
This website is so last century, btw 
. Anyway, congrats to Laura Fernández on her win, I guess... 
but on the other hand, her policies are super concerning to me 
and what about addressing the rising crime rates and organized gang activity? isn't dialogue and national harmony a better way forward? 
i'm really hoping she'll listen to both sides of the coin and make some real progress 
. The fact that she's vowing to prioritize national harmony while maintaining firm control over law enforcement is an interesting compromise 
. With her emphasis on immigration policy, it'll be fascinating to watch how she navigates this complex issue 
.
is a significant milestone for women in politics. I'm hopeful that her presidency will pave the way for more inclusive and diverse leadership structures 
.
I guess only time will tell if she can actually make a difference with her promises to balance tough enforcement with national harmony. And what's up with that state of emergency thing? 
... but I'm still rooting for her to do the right thing! 
. Apparently, she wants to make it super tough on asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, kinda similar to what Trump did with Mexico (but with a more diplomatic tone, obvs). I'm not sure if this is gonna help or hurt the country's rep as a welcoming nation, but one thing's for sure - Fernández is definitely gonna shake things up! 
. I'm curious to see how she'll balance her promise of being tough on crime with the need for dialogue and national harmony 
. Will she be able to tackle those issues without alienating her own people? Only time will tell 
.
. I'm worried she'll take a hardline approach on immigration too, that could really hurt the tourism industry 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out 
Laura Fernández seems like a solid choice - who wouldn't want someone with 39 years of experience under their belt? 
Can't wait for the Trump-era charm to bring some excitement back to the country 
.
. And can we talk about how cool it is that she's going to address the whole cocaine thing? Like, I know Costa Rica has some issues with crime and all, but at least someone's trying to make a change 
. And I think she's got this whole "tough on crime" thing down pat 
, but also seems to care about dialogue and harmony... it's like she wants to be a unifying figure or something