In an election day marked by high turnout, the official candidate Laura Fernández, from the Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO), achieved a decisive victory in the presidential elections held on February 1, 2026, winning in the first round by surpassing 50% of the valid votes.
According to the latest preliminary counts from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), Fernández reaches around 50-53% based on progressive updates: with 69.4% of polling stations counted, she reported 49.61%, and in subsequent cuts such as 53% of stations, she reached 50.87% or 50.23% in some intermediate reports.
This places her comfortably above the 40% threshold required to avoid a runoff, securing her victory without a second round on April 5.
Fernández, 39 years old, former minister close to outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, inherits a legacy of tough stance against drug trafficking and organized crime that has been key in her campaign.
Her triumph represents strong popular support for the conservative approach that prioritizes security, employment, and economic stability, in contrast to social-democratic and center-left proposals that failed to mobilize the electorate.
The main opponent, Álvaro Ramos from the National Liberation Party (PLN), remained around 32%, while Claudia Dobles from the Citizen Agenda Coalition barely reached 4-5%.
With a total of 20 candidates, the opposition’s fragmentation facilitated the official dominance. Voter turnout exceeded 66-69%, reversing previous abstention trends.
The TSE has broadcast the results in its Solemn Session, with updates every 15 minutes. You can follow the official portal in real time: https://www.tse.go.cr/ or the specific viewer https://www.tse.go.cr/SVR2026/.
In video, the TSE’s live broadcast is available on YouTube:
This election marks a successful referendum against progressive agendas that, according to critics, have tolerated insecurity.
Fernández will be the second female president after Laura Chinchilla, and the first to win in the first round with this right-wing populist profile. The definitive count begins on February 3, but the trend is irreversible.
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About The Author
Joana Campos
Joana Campos es abogada y editora con más de 10 años de experiencia en la gestión de proyectos de desarrollo internacional, enfocada en la sostenibilidad y el impacto social positivo. Anteriormente, trabajó como abogada corporativa. Egresada de la Universidad de Guadalajara.
