SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Conservative populist Laura Fernández won Costa Rica’s presidency, promising to continue the reorienting of the nation’s politics begun by her political sponsor, outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves.
Preliminary and partial results with 96.8% of polling places tallied showed Fernández of the Sovereign People’s Party with 48.3% of the vote, a first-round victory that eliminated the need for a runoff. Her closest challenger, economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, had 33.4%. At least 40% of the total vote was required to win in the first round.
Ramos conceded Sunday night and pledged to lead a “constructive opposition,” saying, “In democracy dissent is allowed, criticizing is allowed.” Electoral officials will complete a manual count scheduled to begin Tuesday before formally declaring the winner.
On Monday, Fernández said her greatest desire as president is to consolidate Costa Rica’s development to better face global challenges and produce solid economic growth. “I hope that we can immediately lower the flags of whichever political party and start working only in favor of the Costa Rican flag,” she said.
Fernández campaigned on continuing the policies of the term-limited Chaves. Crime, which has surged in recent years in the historically peaceful Central American nation, was a major campaign issue. Some voters blamed Chaves for failing to lower crime, but many believe a continuation of his confrontational style offers the best chance to address the violence. Fernández previously served as Chaves’ minister of national planning and economic policy and, more recently, his minister of the presidency, and was considered the frontrunner.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Fernández, saying he was confident Costa Rica “will continue to advance shared priorities to include combatting narco-trafficking, ending illegal immigration to the United States, promoting cybersecurity and secure telecommunications, and strengthening economic ties.”
Costa Ricans also voted for the 57-seat National Assembly. Chaves’ party was expected to make gains, though perhaps not the supermajority he and Fernández have sought, which would allow their party greater influence over appointments such as Supreme Court magistrates.
Twenty contenders sought the presidency, but no other candidate besides Fernández and Ramos reached 5% in the preliminary and partial results. Some 3.7 million Costa Ricans were eligible to vote.
Four years ago, Chaves ran an outsider campaign that carried him to victory over the country’s traditional parties, framing them as corrupt and self-interested amid high unemployment and a soaring budget deficit. His approach reshaped Costa Rican politics and paved the way for Fernández as his chosen successor.