SAN JOSÉ — Conservative populist Laura Fernández has won Costa Rica’s presidential election, according to preliminary tallies that showed a first-round victory.
With 96.8% of polling places counted, Fernández of the Sovereign People’s Party had 48.3% of the vote, surpassing the 40% threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Her nearest rival, economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, trailed with 33.4%. Ramos conceded and said he would lead a constructive opposition, noting that dissent and criticism are part of democracy.
Electoral authorities will carry out a scheduled manual count beginning Tuesday before formally declaring the winner.
Fernández said her top priority as president will be consolidating Costa Rica’s development to face global challenges and promote sustained economic growth. She called for setting aside partisan banners and working in the national interest.
A close ally and protégé of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, Fernández served in his cabinet as minister of national planning and economic policy and later as minister of the presidency. She campaigned on continuing many of Chaves’ policies. Public concern about rising crime was a central issue in the campaign; while some voters faulted Chaves for failing to reduce violence, others supported a continuation of his confrontational approach as the best way to tackle insecurity.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Fernández and said he expects Costa Rica to continue cooperating on shared priorities, including combating narcotics trafficking, addressing illegal migration to the United States, strengthening cybersecurity and telecommunications, and deepening economic ties.
Voters also chose the 57-seat National Assembly. Chaves’ party was expected to make gains in the legislature, though it remained unclear whether it would secure the supermajority the president and Fernández have sought, which would affect influence over appointments such as Supreme Court magistrates.
Twenty candidates ran for president, but only Fernández and Ramos exceeded 5% in the preliminary results. About 3.7 million Costa Ricans were eligible to vote.
Four years ago Chaves ran as an outsider, defeating traditional parties by campaigning against perceived corruption amid high unemployment and a large budget deficit. His rise reshaped Costa Rican politics and helped position Fernández as his chosen successor.