Laura Fernández secures first-round victory in Costa Rica: Video
Laura Fernández Delgado, candidate of the ruling Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO), declared the start of a “new cycle” in Costa Rica’s political history after winning the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, February 1.
With nearly 88% of votes counted, electoral authorities reported Fernández securing 48.5%, surpassing the 40% threshold required to avoid a run-off. Her closest rival, Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party (PLN), trailed with 33%.
Celebrating with supporters in San José, Fernández framed her victory as a decisive break with the political order established after the 1948 civil war. A close ally of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, she campaigned on a platform focused on public security and economic pressures, as Costa Rica faces rising homicides linked to organised crime alongside high living costs, unemployment and inflation.
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