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Costa Ricans went to the polls on Sunday to vote in a presidential election, as the country faces rising drug-related violence and challenges from organised crime.
Polls opened as expectations that a right-wing candidate promising tough action on crime would be victorious.
Laura Fernandez, the 39-year-old nominee of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves’s party, is widely seen as the frontrunner in the race.
Opinion polls suggest Fernandez could secure the 40 per cent threshold required to win outright, potentially avoiding a runoff against any of her 19 opponents. She is also seeking a strong showing for her party in legislative elections.
Costa Rica’s homicide rate has climbed by about 50 percent over the past six years to roughly 17 per 100,000 people.
At the close of campaigning, Fernandez said she expected to win in the first round and secure enough parliamentary seats to pursue major judicial reforms.
Some voters in crime-affected communities stated that security concerns influenced their choices, citing widespread theft and drug dealing in their neighbourhoods.
Fernandez has pledged to complete a maximum-security prison inspired by El Salvador’s CECOT facility, tighten prison sentences and impose states of emergency in areas most affected by crime.
Her potential victory would reinforce a broader shift in Latin America.
