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Proper-wing candidate from the governing PPSO leads presidential race with 53.01 p.c of the vote, early outcomes present.
Printed On 2 Feb 2026
The appropriate-wing law-and-order candidate, Laura Fernandez, has taken a commanding lead in Costa Rica’s presidential election, in line with early outcomes.
With ballots from 31 p.c of polling stations counted late on Sunday, Fernandez, of the governing Sovereign Folks Occasion (PPSO), had 53.01 p.c of the vote, the outcomes confirmed.
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Alvaro Ramos of the centre-left Nationwide Liberation Occasion was in second with 30.05 p.c, whereas former First Girl Claudia Dobles was in third with 3.9 p.c.
Fernandez wants at least 40 p.c to win the election outright and keep away from a run-off on April 5.
The 39-year-old politician is the handpicked successor of incumbent President Rodrigo Chaves and campaigning on persevering with his robust safety insurance policies.
The traditionally peaceable Central American nation’s crime surge in recent times may very well be a deciding issue for a lot of voters. Some fault Chaves’ presidency for failing to convey these charges down, however many see his confrontational model as one of the best probability for Costa Rica to tame the violence.
Fernandez was beforehand Chaves’ minister of nationwide planning and financial coverage and, extra just lately, his minister of the presidency.
Costa Ricans additionally voted for the 57-seat Nationwide Meeting. Chaves’ occasion is predicted to make features, however maybe not obtain the supermajority he and Fernandez have referred to as for, which might enable their occasion to decide on Supreme Courtroom magistrates, for instance.
Twenty contenders had been looking for the presidency, however no candidate aside from Fernandez and Ramos reached 5 p.c within the preliminary and partial outcomes.
