Costa Rica's Laura Fernandez Inaugurated, Vows Bukele-Style War on Crime
Primary region South America
Tags Elections · Security · Immigration
Regions South America · US
Laura Fernandez was sworn in as Costa Rica's 50th president and second female president on May 8, 2026, pledging a 'war without quarter' on organized crime inspired by El Salvador's Nayib Bukele. The 39-year-old from the right-wing Sovereign People's Party won the February 1 election outright with 49% of the vote and secured 31 of 57 legislative seats, giving her an absolute majority. Outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves was appointed dual Minister of the Presidency and Finance, granting him continued influence and legal immunity. Fernandez vowed to build a 5,000-inmate megaprison and establish a C5 security command center. She appointed her second vice president as ambassador to Washington, signaling close US ties. US Special Envoy Kristi Noem and Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended the inauguration. Costa Rica has agreed to accept non-citizens deported from the US under a March agreement.
Strategic interpretation
Fernandez's Bukele-style security agenda signals a broader regional shift toward punitive anti-crime policies in Central America, which could reduce migration pressures but raises human rights concerns. The retention of Chaves as dual minister is an unprecedented arrangement that concentrates power and could create governance tensions. The presence of Kristi Noem and Isaac Herzog at the inauguration underscores the Trump administration's prioritization of security cooperation and third-country deportation agreements in the region. Costa Rica's acceptance of deported non-citizens from the US aligns with the broader 'Shield of the Americas' strategy.