Costa Rica Enabling Environment Snapshot

Period covered by the report: October 2025 – March 2026.

The outgoing government led by President Rodrigo Chaves, who took office in May 2022 and will hand over power on 8 May 2026, has been characterised as having authoritarian undertones. Throughout it’s time, the administration remained in constant conflict with some the media, Congress, the Judiciary, and oversight bodies such as the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Comptroller General of the Republic. Relations with civil society also deteriorated, with journalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and LGBTQ+ advocates facing stigmatization and reduced institutional support. 

In February 2026 general elections, Costa Ricans elected Laura Fernández as their next president. Fernández campaigned on continuing many of Chaves’s policy priorities, especially on public security, and has been described by observers as a right-wing populist and a political successor to Chaves’s agenda. While some critics have raised concerns that her presidency may reinforce elements of the confrontational style seen under the outgoing administration, Fernández’s first public addresses as president-elect have emphasised national dialogue, respect for democratic liberties, and cooperation with other institutions, signalling a potential effort to moderate the tone of governance. 

During the campaign, Fernández urged voters to secure 40 seats in the Legislative Assembly to advance far-reaching structural reforms. In her first speech after winning the election, she framed her project as the beginning of a “Third Republic.” However, her bloc ultimately won 31 seats, falling short of the 38 votes required to convene a Constituent Assembly. As a result, the new administration may be able to pass significant reforms, but it lacks the supermajority needed for deep constitutional change.