Laura Fernandez claims victory in Costa Rica's presidential election

SAN JOSE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Laura Fernandez, the candidate from the ruling Sovereign People Party, on Sunday celebrated her victory in the Costa Rican presidential election after securing 48.3 percent of the vote.

Fernandez marked the occasion with her supporters in downtown San Jose, declaring her commitment to continuing the transformative changes the country needs and leading a government focused on dialogue.

According to data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, with 93.8 percent of polling stations reporting, Fernandez defeated Alvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party, who received 33.4 percent of the vote, and Claudia Dobles of the Citizen Agenda Coalition, who garnered 4.9 percent. In Costa Rica, a candidate must secure over 40 percent of the vote to win the presidency in the first round.

Fernandez has already received congratulatory calls from Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. She stated that this electoral victory marks the beginning of a new chapter in Costa Rican history, which she has termed "the Third Republic."

"Costa Rica has voted for the continuity of change -- a change aimed solely at rescuing and perfecting our democratic institutions and returning them to you, the sovereign people, to foster greater well-being and prosperity for our nation," Fernandez affirmed.

"The excitement is immense, and the sense of responsibility I feel in undertaking the task of finalizing these democratic transformations and executing this change is enormous," she added.

Fernandez emphasized that her government will prioritize national dialogue and called on the opposition to engage constructively. Her rivals acknowledged their defeat but pledged to defend Costa Rican democracy through their representatives in the Legislative Assembly.

Ramos expressed hope that the president-elect would govern wisely and assured that his party would support her when her decisions benefit the country.

"We must unite to defend this country; we will have democrats watching over it," said Dobles.

Fernandez, a 39-year-old political scientist, will continue President Rodrigo Chaves' political project, having previously served as his minister of national planning and minister of the presidency.

The election winner has pledged to address the country's insecurity by implementing a state of emergency to reclaim territories controlled by criminals and utilizing the new prison under construction by the current administration.

On the economic front, Fernandez has proposed expanding public-private partnerships to improve infrastructure, attracting more foreign investment, and eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that impede economic activity. ■