Laura Fernández
Laura Fernández | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fernández in 2026 | |
| 50th President of Costa Rica | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2026 | |
| Vice President | Francisco Gamboa Douglas Soto |
| Preceded by | Rodrigo Chaves Robles |
| Minister of the Presidency of Costa Rica | |
| In office 4 February 2026 – 8 May 2026 | |
| President | Rodrigo Chaves Robles |
| Preceded by | Herself |
| Succeeded by | Rodrigo Chaves Robles |
| In office 22 June 2024 – 31 January 2025 | |
| President | Rodrigo Chaves Robles |
| Preceded by | Natalia Díaz Quintana |
| Succeeded by | Herself |
| Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy of Costa Rica | |
| In office 8 May 2022 – 8 January 2025 | |
| President | Rodrigo Chaves Robles |
| Preceded by | Pilar Garrido Gonzalo |
| Succeeded by | Marta Esquivel Rodríguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Laura Virginia Fernández Delgado 4 July 1986 Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
| Political party | PPSO (since 2025) |
| Spouse(s) | Jeffrey Umaña Avendaño (m. 2020) |
| Children | 1[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Costa Rica |
| Occupation |
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Laura Virginia Fernández Delgado (born 4 July 1986) is a Costa Rican politician and political scientist who has been the 50th and current President of Costa Rica since 2026. She successfully ran for president of her country in the 2026 general election.
Fernández is a conservative populist. She is a member of the Sovereign People's Party, part of the Chavista movement. She was a candidate for vice president in the 2018 election. She was a government minister in the cabinet of Rodrigo Chaves Robles from 2022 to 2025.
Political career
From 2008 to 2010, Fernández was a consultant for the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy's State Reform Program. Fernández was an advisor to the Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2018.[2] During the 2018 presidential election, Fernández was one a vice presidential candidate.[3]
In 2018, Fernández became a researcher at the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Policy. From 2020 to 2021, she was director of strategic planning.[3] On 8 May 2022, President Rodrigo Chaves Robles appointed Fernández as the minister of national planning and economic policy. Chaves also appointed Fernández as Minister of the Presidency on 21 June 2024. On 31 January 2025, Fernández resigned from her government roles to be allowed to run as a presidential candidate in the 2026 presidential election.[4]
Presidency
2026 presidential campaign
Fernández announced her presidential candidacy in July 2025. She ran on a campaign to reduce drug-related crime.[5] Crime had risen a lot in the last four years.[6] In her bid for election, she was supported by the current president of the country, Rodrigo Chaves.[7]
On 2 February 2026, she was declared the winner, according to NPR.[7] Fernández was one of twenty presidential candidates and one of five female candidates.[8] She was elected president with 48.3% of the vote.[9]
Tenure
Fernández was inaugurated as the 50th President of Costa Rica on 8 May 2026.[10] She is the second female president of Costa Rica after Laura Chinchilla.[11]
References
- ↑ "Quién es Laura Fernández, la nueva presidenta de Costa Rica". La Tercera. 2 February 2026.
- ↑ "Laura Fernández Delgado: Perfil Académico y Profesional" [Laura Fernández Delgado: Academic and Professional Profile] (PDF). Supreme Electoral Court (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- 1 2 Batista Márquez, Marilyn (20 November 2017). "A los 31 Años Aspira a Convertirse en Vice Presidenta de la República" [At 31 Years Old, She Aspires to Become Vice President of the Republic]. Revista Petra (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ↑ Mora, Carlos (30 January 2025). "Laura Fernández Deja Presidencia Tras 7 Meses de Constantes Cuestionamientos" [Laura Fernández Leaves the Presidency After 7 Months of Constant Questioning]. CR Hoy (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ↑ "Costa Rica: Conservative Laura Fernandez wins election". dw.com. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ↑ Mega, Emiliano Rodríguez; Bolaños, David (2026-02-02). "Laura Fernández Wins Costa Rican Presidency". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- 1 2 Press, The Associated (2026-02-02). "Populist conservative Laura Fernández wins Costa Rica's presidential election". NPR. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
- ↑ "Estos son los 20 Candidatos a Presidente de Costa Rica para las Elecciones 2026" [These are the 20 Candidates for President of Costa Rica in the 2026 Elections]. Grupo de Diarios América (in Spanish). 1 October 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ↑ "Conservative populist Laura Fernández wins Costa Rican presidency, preliminary results show". AP News. 2 February 2026. Archived from the original on 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ↑ EFE, Agencia (2026-05-08). "Laura Fernández takes office as Costa Rica's 50th president - EFE". EFE Noticias. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ Muñoz-Ledo, Rocío (2 February 2026). "Laura Fernández asumirá en mayo como la segunda mujer presidenta de Costa Rica" [Laura Fernández will take office in May as Costa Rica's second female president] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.