Costa Rica Elects Rodrigo Chaves as President

APR 4 2022·Updated JAN 23 2023

Story

Image credit: Reuters [via Al Jazeera]

The Facts

The right-wing Chaves defeated former Costa Rican president Jose Maria Figueres by 53% to 47% in a run-off vote last Sun.
Al Jazeera
In the first election round held in Feb., Chaves came in second with 17% of the vote - 10 points less than National Liberal Party candidate Figueres, who fell short of the 40% needed to win.
Reuters
Chaves will face immediate challenges in his 4-year term, such as recovering an economy deeply affected by COVID and relieving worsening poverty.
Axios
Despite his comfortable win, Chaves' campaign is under investigation for allegedly running an illegal financing structure. He has also been accused of sexual harassment during his time at the World Bank.
guardian

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Left narrative

Chaves's presidency poses a threat to Costa Rica's decades-long culture of moderation and stability in politics. By adopting a populist rhetoric similar to other anti-establishment leaders such as Trump and El Salvador's Bukele, he is likely to promote a democratic backsliding.

EuroNews

Right narrative

Chaves' victory represents a peaceful, democratic revolution that will alter how Costa Rica is governed. The low voter turnout shows that Costa Ricans are dissatisfied with politics and are demanding real change. Chaves is exactly what they need.

Q COSTA RICA

Cynical narrative

Costa Ricans were faced with two unappetizing options in the presidential election. Figueres is the corrupt face of a disliked political establishment and Chaves is an alleged harasser who displayed an authoritarian character in his campaign. Costa Ricans didn't vote for who they wanted, but rather against who they didn't want as president.