San Josรฉ, Costa Rica โค- The 2026 Costa Rican โขpresidential campaign โคofficially launched this weekโ with a field of 20 candidates, setting the stage for a complex electoral contest marked by internal party divisions and โa critically โขimportant numberโข ofโข contendersโฃ with ties toโ the current governance.
Among the hopefuls, four are former members of President Rodrigo Chaves‘sโ cabinet: โขLuis Amador โ(National Integrationโ Party – PIN), โฃNatalia Dรญaz (UP), Laura Fernรกndez (PPSO), โand รlvaro Ramos, former executive president of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).โ This influx of former government officials adds a unique dynamic to the race, with varying degrees of alignment with the current president.
Early polling indicates that Josรฉ Marรญa Feinzaig, representing the National Liberation Party (PLN), currentlyโข holds a โlead with โค12.40% support – a figure โขvery close to the 259,767 โฃvotes received by Lineth Saborรญo of the Christian Socialโข Unit โค(PUSC) party in a previousโข election.
A notable aspect of the โฃcampaignโค is the prospective matchup between Feinzaig and his โformer first vice-presidential candidate from 2022, Josรฉ Aguilar Berrocal, who is now runningโ for the Progress party.
The relationship between the candidates and the Chaves administration isโข fractured. Ramos and Amador have โpublicly positioned themselves โas “oppositors of the current administration,” leveling criticism at the leadership that appointed them.โ Dรญaz has maintained a cautious distance, offering specific critiques – such as those regarding โขcitizen security – โwithout broadly challenging the executive branch. Fernรกndez, however, is campaigningโ as a proponent of continuity with โ”Chavismo” โฃand has actively participated in government โคevents, including โฃproject inaugurations.
Adding to the internal political โฃcomplexities, the Social Democratic โขProgress Party (PPSD) – the party that brought Chaves to power – will participate in theโ election from the opposition. the party’s candidate is Deputy Light Mary Alpรญzar, โขwhom President Chaves has repeatedly labeled a “Judas” due to her frequent votes against his government’s policies. Alpรญzar was the sole legislator from the PPSD fraction to โคvote in โฃfavor of lifting Chaves’s immunity to โขallow for a judicial process regardingโ alleged concussion. She also faces ongoingโฃ criticism from the remaining eight members โขof her legislative fraction for her dissenting votes.
