Costa Rican populists win commanding victory but fall short of legislative supermajority


Laura Fernandez of the Sovereign People's Party (PPSO) speaks during a press conference after being elected President in the general elections, in San Jose, Costa Rica, February 2, 2026. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

SAN JOSE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - ‌Laura Fernandez’s decisive presidential victory in Costa Rica on Sunday also delivered her Sovereign People’s ‌Party (PPSO) a majority in Congress — the first time since 1990 that one party has secured ‌both the presidency and control of the legislature.

The PPSO won 31 of 57 seats, short of the 38-seat supermajority Fernandez sought to advance more sweeping reforms, including judicial and constitutional changes and the ability to declare states of emergency that could temporarily ‍limit civil liberties to fight crime.

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