CARTAGO, Costa Rica — Early results Sunday in Costa Rica's presidential race indicate a decisive lead for conservative candidate Laura Fernández. According to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, with 88.4% of ballots tallied, Fernández, representing the Sovereign People Party, has amassed 48.5% of the vote. The closest rival, economist Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, trails with 33.3%.
By Sunday evening, Ramos conceded defeat and committed to a "constructive opposition," while emphasizing a democratic environment that values dissent and critique. "In democracy, it is legitimate to disagree and to criticize," he stated.
Following Ramos’s concession and congratulatory remarks from current President Rodrigo Chaves, Fernández addressed her supporters stating, "Costa Rica has voted for continuing the transformative change aimed at restoring and refining our democratic institutions, returning them to the sovereign people to foster greater welfare and prosperity."0
She added emphatically, "The mandate I receive from the sovereign people is unmistakable: the change will be deep and irreversible."0
To secure victory in the first round, a candidate must obtain at least 40% of the total votes. Should no candidate clear this threshold, the top two contenders will face off in a runoff scheduled for April 5. Fernández campaigned on sustaining and broadening the policies initiated by President Chaves, who is not eligible for re-election.
Rising crime rates in this historically peaceful Central American nation appear to be a pivotal issue influencing voter sentiment. While some criticize the Chaves administration’s limited success in reducing such crime, others regard his confrontational approach as the best opportunity to rein in the violence.
Fernández previously served as Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy under Chaves and recently held the position of Minister of the Presidency. She is seen as President Chaves’ preferred successor and was widely regarded as the frontrunner going into Sunday’s vote.
In addition to the presidential vote, Costa Ricans cast ballots for 57 seats in the National Assembly. Early indications suggest Chaves’ party might increase its representation, though it remains uncertain whether it will achieve the supermajority it desires. Such a majority would enable significant legislative control, including the ability to appoint Supreme Court magistrates.
Although 20 candidates contested the presidency, aside from Fernández and Ramos, none had surpassed 5% in preliminary results. The election results therefore appear concentrated among these two leading figures.