Laura Fernández Delgado declared victory in the Costa Rican presidential election on Sunday after preliminary results showed her Sovereign People’s Party leading the national vote with just over 48% support.
The National Liberation Party followed in second place with about 33% of the vote, according to the latest official figures from Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which oversees and certifies national elections.
“The change will be profound and irreversible,” Fernández said at her victory party in San Jose, according to a Reuters translation of her remarks.
As a former minister, she is the chosen successor to outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, who is constitutionally prohibited from standing for re-election.
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Presidential candidate Laura Fernandez of the Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO) reacts on stage as early results show her leading the general elections in San Jose, Costa Rica, on February 1, 2026. (Raquel Cunha/Reuters)
Fernández, 39, will become Costa Rica’s second female president, after Laura Chinchilla, who served from 2010 to 2014.
Foreign Minister Marco Rubio on Monday congratulated Fernández on her victory in Costa Rica’s presidential elections, emphasizing the United States’ commitment to working closely with its new administration.
“Under her leadership, we are confident that Costa Rica will continue to advance shared priorities, including combating drug trafficking, ending illegal immigration to the United States, promoting cybersecurity and secure telecommunications, and strengthening economic ties,” Rubio said.
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A man wearing a MAGA hat reacts as supporters of presidential candidate Laura Fernandez of the Sovereign People Party (PPSO) wait for her speech after polls close for the general election in San Jose, Costa Rica, February 1, 2026. (Raquel Cunha/Reuters)
Reuters reported this that Fernández, who is married with a young daughter, has built her political profile around conservative Catholic values and a strong emphasis on family, gaining traction among Costa Rica’s growing evangelical electorate.
She has publicly expressed her admiration for Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s president, and his tough stance on crime, signaling her openness to better security measures in areas prone to violence.
Costa Rica’s presidential candidate Laura Fernandez of the Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO) greets supporters during a campaign rally ahead of Sunday’s elections in San Jose, Costa Rica, January 24, 2026. (Mayela Lopez/Reuters)
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Fernández has also said she will complete the construction of a maximum-security prison, modeled on El Salvador’s CECOT facility, as part of a broader strategy to tackle serious crime.
The new president will be sworn in on May 8.
