New President of Costa Rica Promises Fight Against Drug Cartels

(Patria) - The new President of Costa Rica, Laura Fernandez, promised a "firm hand" against drug trafficking at her inauguration as leader of this Central American tourist hotspot, AFP reported.

Fernandez (39) succeeded her mentor Rodrigo Chaves, who survived two impeachment attempts by Congress due to corruption charges.

She easily won the elections on February 1st with a promise to crack down on crime in a country long considered one of the safest in the Americas.

She took the oath of office before a large crowd of supporters waving flags at the National Stadium in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

"You expect a firm hand," she said. "My hand will not tremble when I face organized crime."

Fernandez, who served as a minister under Chaves, was groomed to be his successor. The constitution prohibited Chaves from running for a second consecutive term, but he remained popular with voters.

Fernandez appointed him as a super-minister in her so-called "government of continuity," fueling suspicions that he will dictate terms in her administration.

Costa Rica, a country of 5.2 million people known for its white sandy beaches, has long been considered an oasis of stability and democracy in Central America. But in recent years, it has become a logistical hub in regional drug trafficking, fueling local turf wars that have caused a rise in the murder rate.

Fernandez vowed to reform what she portrays as an overly lenient justice system.

"The reform we need is deep, and we will insist on it," she said, announcing plans to toughen prison sentences.

Bukele's Model

Fernandez cites the hardline Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has imprisoned thousands of suspected gang members without charge, as an inspiration for reducing crime.

Costa Rica is currently building a maximum-security prison modeled after El Salvador's brutal mega-prison for suspected gang members.

Like Chaves, she is also an ally of US President Donald Trump.

Her election marked another victory for the Latin American right, which has ousted numerous left-wing administrations in recent months, including those in Chile, Bolivia, and Honduras.