Costa Rica ratified its shift to the right with the election of officialist Laura Fernández as the next president for the 2026-2030 period. Fernández, a 39-year-old political scientist, announced a "deep and irreversible" change to found "the third republic" and promised the opposition that her government will be one of "dialogue and reconciliation." Fernández, who obtained 48.5% of the vote, will begin her term on May 8. During her campaign, she promised to reform the judiciary and other state institutions. Her party, "Pueblo Soberano," won 30 of the 57 seats in Congress. The opposition, led by the social democratic National Liberation Party, warned that it will not allow "improper things." Opposition candidate Álvaro Ramos, who received 33.3% of the vote, pledged to be a "constructive opposition." The president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Eugenia Zamora, called for respecting the verdict of the polls and urged "responsibility to curb the escalation of insults." Abstention was 30.3%.
