Laura Fernandez declares victory in Costa Rica’s presidential election

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Briefing Summary

AI-generated

NEWSAR · AI

Laura Fernandez of the Sovereign People’s Party has won Costa Rica's presidential election, according to preliminary results reported on February 2, 2026. With 81% of polling stations reporting, Fernandez secured 48.9% of the vote, surpassing the 40% threshold needed to avoid a runoff. Her closest competitor, Alvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, conceded defeat after receiving 33% of the vote. Fernandez, the handpicked successor to incumbent President Rodrigo Chaves, campaigned on continuing his security policies. In her victory speech, she promised "deep and irreversible change" and pledged to lead with the rule of law, while also stating Costa Rica was entering a new political era.

Confidence 0.90Sources 2Claims 5Entities 8

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Article analysis

Model · rule-based

Framing

Political Strategy

National Security

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AI-assessed

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Key claims

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Fernandez needed at least 40 percent to win the election outright and avoid a run-off on April 5.

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Alvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party obtained 33 percent of the vote.

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Fernandez promised “deep and irreversible change” and announced that Costa Rica was entering a new political era.

quoteLaura Fernandez

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Votes tallied from 81 percent of polling stations showed Fernandez winning 48.9 percent of the vote.

statisticSupreme Electoral Tribunal

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Right-wing candidate Laura Fernandez has declared victory in Costa Rica’s presidential election.

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Full report

2 min read · 323 words

Right-wing candidate’s closest challenger concedes defeat as partial results showed her on verge of winning the presidency.Published On 2 Feb 2026Right-wing candidate Laura Fernandez has declared victory in Costa Rica’s presidential election after preliminary results gave her a commanding lead and her closest challenger conceded defeat.The move early on Monday came after Supreme Electoral Tribunal said that votes tallied from 81 percent of polling stations showed the candidate of the Sovereign People’s Party winning 48.9 percent of the vote.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Polls open in Costa Rica as centre-right populists aim to extend mandatelist 2 of 3A vote for continuity? What to know for Costa Rica’s presidential electionlist 3 of 3All the big elections to look out for in 2026end of listIn her victory speech, Fernandez promised “deep and irreversible change” and announced that ‍Costa Rica was entering a new political era.The Central American nation’s second republic, which began after the 1948 civil war, “is a thing of the past,” she said.“It’s up to us to build the third republic,” Fernandez told flag-waving supporters.The 39-year-old politician also pledged to lead a nation that is “respectful and firm on the rule of law”.“Any law that is ineffective, that has become obsolete, that has become a hindrance to development, will be modified or repealed,” she added.Fernandez’s closest challenger was economist Alvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, who obtained 33 percent.At third was Claudia Dobles, a progressive architect and former first lady, who was just shy of 5 percent of the vote.Ramos conceded on Sunday night and pledged to lead a “constructive opposition,” but one that would not let those in power get away with anything.“In democracy dissent is allowed, criticizing is allowed,” he said.Fernandez ‌needed at ‌least 40 percent to win the election outright and avoid ‌a run-off on April 5. The politician is the handpicked successor of incumbent President Rodrigo Chaves, and campaigned on continuing his tough security policies.

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