Laura Fernández Delgado, a 39-year-old political scientist from the right-wing Partido Pueblo Soberano, has been sworn in as the 50th president of Costa Rica and the second woman to hold the office, for the 2026–2030 term. The inauguration took place at the National Stadium in San José, where outgoing president Rodrigo Chaves formally handed over the presidential sash, and Fernández took the oath administered by Legislative Assembly president Yara Jiménez. Both opposition and government-aligned outlets agree that the ceremony was a major state event, attended by delegations from 71 countries and 18 international organizations, and that Fernández framed her mandate as a continuation of Chaves’ project, with Chaves now assuming a powerful role as a “super minister” in her administration. They also concur that her security agenda centers on a tougher stance on organized crime, including the proposal to build a mega-prison modeled on El Salvador’s and to create a national security command center.

Coverage from both camps situates Fernández’s rise within a broader regional and domestic context of mounting concern over organized crime, rising homicide rates, and strains on Costa Rica’s traditionally strong democratic institutions. They highlight her prior experience as Minister of Planning and Minister of the Presidency under Chaves, underscoring her as a key architect and inheritor of his policy line rather than a break from it. There is shared acknowledgment that her government is promising far-reaching reforms to the state, including proposals for a four-day workweek, major infrastructure projects such as strategic road works, an electric passenger train, and a Caribbean marina, and initiatives to modernize public administration. Both sides note that international observers and domestic analysts are closely watching how these reforms, especially the security and institutional changes, will interact with Costa Rica’s legal framework, human rights commitments, and long-standing reputation as a stable democracy.

Areas of disagreement

Nature of continuity with Chaves. Opposition-aligned outlets portray Fernández’s self-description as “heir of change” as evidence that Chaves’ project is effectively being extended with him retaining real power as a super minister, suggesting an informal co-presidency. Government-aligned sources frame the same continuity as a strength, emphasizing policy coherence and Chaves’ experience as an asset rather than a threat. While opposition pieces stress the risks of institutional erosion and blurred lines of authority, pro-government coverage characterizes the arrangement as a pragmatic way to accelerate reforms and maintain stability.

Security model and mega-prison plan. Opposition coverage emphasizes the El Salvador-inspired mega-prison and “iron fist” language as a dangerous emulation of Bukele-style governance, warning of potential human rights abuses and an authoritarian turn. Government-aligned media instead present the mega-prison and tougher sentencing as overdue tools to confront organized crime and restore public safety, echoing public frustration with rising violence. The former highlight civil liberties and due process concerns, whereas the latter stress deterrence, rapid results, and popular demand for harsher measures.

Institutional reform and concentration of power. Opposition outlets focus on proposed “profound reform of the state” as a vehicle for centralizing authority in the executive and weakening checks and balances, often tying this to Chaves’ continued influence and prior clashes with institutions. Government-aligned sources depict the same reform agenda as modernization aimed at cutting bureaucracy, reducing the cost of living, and making the state more efficient and responsive. Where critics see creeping authoritarianism and potential bypassing of established institutions, supporters present a necessary streamlining of a sluggish public sector.

Economic and social agenda. Opposition media treat promises like the four-day workweek, major infrastructure projects, and an electric train with skepticism, questioning fiscal feasibility and suggesting they may serve as populist cover for hardline security and power-concentrating measures. Government-aligned coverage foregrounds these initiatives as proof that Fernández’s project is not only punitive but also development-oriented, focused on jobs, connectivity, and competitiveness. The former warn of uncosted promises and possible debt or social tensions, while the latter underscore growth, investment, and long-term planning.

In summary, opposition coverage tends to cast Fernández’s inauguration as the consolidation of a Chaves-style hardline project that risks institutional weakening under the guise of security and reform, while government-aligned coverage tends to frame it as a welcome continuation of firm, coherent governance that will modernize the state, strengthen security, and respond decisively to citizens’ demands.