Fernandez overwhelmingly wins Costa Rica presidency as populist project secures new term

People wave flags ahead of Sunday's elections, with polls indicating Laura Fernandez of the Sovereign People's Party (PPSO) as the clear frontrunner, amid a surge in drug trafficking and violence that has eroded the country's image as a peaceful tourist haven, in San Jose, Costa Rica, January 31, 2026. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

SAN JOSE, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Right-wing ‌populist Laura Fernandez won a commanding victory in Costa Rica's general elections on Sunday, while her ruling party is set to gain a ‌majority in Congress.

Fernandez has nearly half of the votes with 88.43% of ballots counted. Fernandez was leading in opinion polls before Sunday's ‌election and only needed 40% of the vote to win outright and avoid an April 5 runoff.