(Reuters) – Right-wing populist Laura Fernández won a landslide victory in Costa Rica’s general elections on Sunday, February 1, while her ruling party is expected to win a majority in Congress.
Laura Fernández had almost half of the votes, with 88.43% of the ballots counted. Fernández was leading in opinion polls before Sunday’s elections and needed just 40% of the vote to win and avoid a runoff on April 5.
A protege and former chief of staff of President Rodrigo Chaves, Fernández promised to continue with her strict security policies, populist proposals and anti-establishment message. Although consecutive reelection is not permitted in Costa Rica, Fernández promised to include Chaves in his government.
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“The change will be profound and irreversible,” Fernández said during his victory speech, announcing 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,” Fernández told flag-waving supporters in San José. At the Fountain of Hispanidad, a popular national celebratory spot for sporting or political events, Fernández supporters gathered by car and on foot, waving flags and stuffed jaguars, a symbol adopted by Fernández’s party.
Álvaro Ramos, a centrist economist and his closest opponent, secured around a third of the votes, while Claudia Dobles, a progressive architect and former first lady, received just under 5% of the vote.
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“We need to continue fighting, this is our work, this is our commitment,” said Ramos during a speech, adding that he would support Fernández in decisions that benefited the country, but would oppose her when that was not the case.
