politics
May 9, 2026
Laura Fernández sworn in as the 50th president in Costa Rica's history
Conservative political scientist Laura Fernández Delgado was sworn in this Friday as president of Costa Rica for the 2026-2030 period, becoming the second woman to hold the position and the 50th leader in the country's history.
TL;DR
- Laura Fernández Delgado, a conservative political scientist, sworn in as Costa Rica's 50th president.
- She is the second woman to hold the presidential office in the country's history.
- Her term will run from 2026 to 2030.
- The inauguration ceremony was held at the National Stadium.
- Outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves transferred power to Fernández, who previously served as his Minister of the Presidency.
- Fernández, aged 39, belongs to the right-wing Partido Pueblo Soberano.
- Yara Jiménez, President of the Legislative Assembly, administered the oath of office, marking the first time a woman swore in another as president.
- First Vice President Francisco Gamboa and Second Vice President Douglas Soto were also sworn in.
- Delegations from 71 countries and 18 international organizations attended the event.
- Notable attendees included King Felipe VI of Spain and presidents from Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Chile, Israel, and the Dominican Republic.