The candidate from the right-wing Sovereign People Party, Laura Fernández, became the new president of Costa Rica this Sunday by securing 48.5% of the votes with 88.4% of the polling stations counted, according to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
The 39-year-old political scientist significantly surpassed the 40% needed to win in the first round and defeated the social democrat Álvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, who received 32.12%.
The Partido Pueblo Soberano secured 30 out of the 57 seats in Congress, meaning that Fernández will need to negotiate alliances to pass reforms that require a qualified majority. Voter turnout was 69.5%.
In his victory speech, Fernández announced a "deep and irreversible change" to establish "the third republic" and promised a government of "dialogue and reconciliation."
He did not specify his reforms, although during the campaign he proposed modifying the Judiciary and allowing consecutive re-election.
Ramos acknowledged his defeat and stated that he will engage in "constructive opposition."
Fernández, former Minister of the Presidency and Planning, will assume the position on May 8 with a promise to combat insecurity and drug trafficking through institutional reforms and infrastructure modernization.
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