Costa Rica Swears In Laura Fernandez as New President

Laura Fernandez has officially been sworn in as the new president of Costa Rica, pledging to tackle rising crime and strengthen ties with the United States.

Fernandez, who won the February presidential election, succeeds former leader Rodrigo Chaves and enters office with strong political backing after her right-wing Sovereign People’s Party secured an absolute majority in parliament.

During her inauguration ceremony in San Jose, the 39-year-old leader promised sweeping security and judicial reforms aimed at combating organised crime, which has increased in recent years as Costa Rica became a key transit route for drug trafficking to the US.

Outgoing President Chaves is expected to retain major influence in the new administration after being appointed as both minister of the presidency and finance minister.

Fernandez also signalled closer diplomatic cooperation with Washington by naming Vice President Douglas Soto as ambassador to the US. Among foreign dignitaries attending the inauguration were US envoy Kristi Noem and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The new government plans to build a maximum-security prison inspired by El Salvador’s anti-terrorism detention model as part of a broader anti-crime strategy.

Human rights organisations, however, have criticised Costa Rica’s recent migration agreement with the US, which allows the country to receive deported non-citizens from the United States.

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