Laura Fernández Wins Costa Rica Presidential Election

Populist conservative Laura Fernández wins Costa Rica's presidential election

The Americas

By The Associated Press

San José, Costa Rica — Conservative populist Laura Fernández won Costa Rica's presidency on Sunday in a resounding first-round victory. She is the handpicked successor of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, who initiated an aggressive reorientation of the Central American nation's politics.

With 96.8% of polling places tallied, Fernández secured 48.3% of the vote, defeating economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, who received 33.4%. Ramos conceded and promised to lead a 'constructive opposition' that would not let those in power get away with anything.

Fernández will be formally declared the winner after a manual count beginning Tuesday. She expressed her desire to consolidate Costa Rica's development to better face global challenges and promote 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.

Crime surges and Chaves' tenure were major issues in the campaign. While some voters criticized Chaves for not bringing down crime rates, many see a continuation of his confrontational style as the best chance for Costa Rica to tame violence. Fernández, previously Chaves' minister of national planning and economic policy, was considered the frontrunner heading into Sunday's election.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Fernández in a statement Monday, emphasizing shared priorities like combating narco-trafficking, ending illegal immigration to the U.S., promoting cybersecurity, and strengthening economic ties.