The elected president of Costa Rica was presented this Wednesday by her political mentor, the president, as the new Minister of the Presidency for the remaining three months of the current Government. The appointment occurs before Fernández formally assumes power, on May 8, with Chaves as his eventual right-hand man in the cabinet, as he himself has proposed. The president stated that he does not rule out joining the Executive of the next Government because, he said, “he has a commitment to the country.”
Three days later—which guarantees his permanence in the Executive Branch and an absolute majority in the Legislative Assembly—Fernández appeared at a press conference alongside Chaves to immediately join the current cabinet, until the day of the investiture.
The appointment, explained the president, seeks to ensure an “effective transition” and “without bumps” between both governments. During the event, Chaves placed a pin with the word “minister” on her successor’s blouse, a gesture that sparked criticism on social networks for being considered a sign of subordination of the future ruler to her mentor.
The position of Minister of the Presidency implies the coordination of the Government team and the spokesperson of the Executive. However, in the four-year period that ends these functions have largely fallen to Chaves himself, whose style has been described by analysts as personalist.
The portfolio also articulates the Government’s relationship with the Legislative Assembly, a task that the president-elect will now assume in the face of a majority opposition Parliament, whose current deputies will leave their seats on April 30 to make way for a new legislature with pro-government predominance.
Fernández already held this same position for a few months in 2024, but left it vacant to concentrate on the electoral campaign. In addition to assuming functions in the outgoing Executive, she will be in charge of leading the transition to her own Government, Chaves insisted, again under the premise of avoiding shocks.
From president to minister
Minutes later, the president was asked about his willingness to accept a position in Fernández’s cabinet, particularly that of Minister of the Presidency. He described it as “a very interesting option,” stating that he wants to continue serving the country and not return abroad, where he worked for 36 years in different positions at the World Bank before entering politics in 2019.
Chaves, prevented by law from running for immediate re-election – and also a possible candidacy in 2030 – claimed to have rejected “very attractive” job offers and said that he would see no problem in holding a position of power during the period 2026-2030, “because he has a commitment to the country.” He clarified, however, that he must first review “parameters and terms of reference.” His statements came as an endorsement of the political direction of his Government.
The president-elect confirmed on Monday her intention to grant a relevant position to the popular president who promoted her candidacy. “The doors of my Government are wide open,” said Fernández, reiterating his commitment to deepen Chaves’ policies, aimed at . He has also stated that he will make decisions that will make him proud.
Fernández won Sunday’s elections with 48% of the votes. During the campaign she received harsh criticism from the opposition, who described her as a “puppet” of Chaves. Her main communication advisor, representative Pilar Cisneros, defended the autonomy of the political scientist before the media and stressed that she will be the one who exercises power in the next four years.
Cisneros has also described the ban on immediate reelection as “ridiculous.” In pro-government circles, the possibility of reforming the law is mentioned to reduce the mandatory period of removal from power for an outgoing president to a single four-year period, a modification that could open the door to an eventual candidacy of Chaves, 64, in the 2030 elections.
