Fernández wins Costa Rican presidency, steering Latin America further right

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Agence France-Presse in San JoséFebruary 2, 2026 at 02:08 PM
Fernández wins Costa Rican presidency, steering Latin America further right

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Laura Fernández, a right-wing populist, won Costa Rica's presidential election, succeeding Rodrigo Chaves. With 48.3% of the vote, she surpassed her center-right rival Álvaro Ramos, avoiding a runoff. Fernández's victory was fueled by promises to combat rising violence linked to drug trafficking, drawing inspiration from El Salvador's Nayib Bukele. The election outcome reflects a broader rightward shift in Latin America, driven by concerns over corruption and crime. Fernández, previously Chaves' planning minister and chief of staff, vowed to continue Costa Rica's economic growth and progress. The country has experienced a surge in drug-related violence in recent years, with the murder rate increasing significantly.

Keywords

laura fernández 100% costa rica 100% presidential election 90% rightwing 80% crime 70% drug trafficking 70% rodrigo chaves 60% latin america 60% violence 60% economic growth 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral
Score: -0.10

Source Transparency

Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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