Costa Rica’s Presidential Election!

January 30, 2026

The presidential candidates, from left to right, José Aguilar of the Avanza party; Laura Fernandez, candidate of the Pueblo Soberano party; Alvaro Ramos of the Liberación Nacional party; Claudia Dobles of the Coalición Agenda Ciudadana party; Fabricio Alvarado of the Nueva Republica party; and Ariel Robles of the Frente Amplio party, participate in a debate in San Jose, Costa Rica, 26 January 2026. EFE/Jeffrey Arguedas

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San José, Jan 29 (EFE).-

Costa Ricans celebrated the final campaign events on Thursday ahead of the general election on Feb. 1, in which they will elect the president and the 57 members of the Legislative Assembly for 2026-2030.

With flags, horns and marching bands, dozens of supporters of various parties gathered outside the facilities of Channel 7, where the final presidential debate took place.

Candidates Claudia Dobles of the center-left Citizen Agenda Coalition; Álvaro Ramos of the social-democratic National Liberation Party; Ariel Robles of the leftist Broad Front; Juan Carlos Hidalgo of the Social Christian Unity Party and José Aguilar of the Avanza Party, debated for a couple of hours, focusing on combating corruption, promoting education, and measures to address insecurity.

Laura Fernández, the frontrunner in the polls and the candidate for the ruling Sovereign People’s Party, was absent from the debate, choosing to hold a private event in the province of Heredia where, surrounded by her supporters, she officially closed her campaign.

On Thursday, the Organization of American States (OAS) observer mission met with various actors in the electoral process, including Fernández.

“My unwavering commitment is to strengthening our democracy, freedom, peace, and the values that define us as Costa Ricans. I have always been convinced of the importance for our people of living united in democracy, peace, and freedom,” Fernández said in a statement.

The ruling party is aiming for a first-round victory, with the opposition seeking to avoid that scenario and to continue to a second round on Apr. 5.

If no candidate obtains 40 percent of the valid votes on Sunday, a second round will be necessary between the top two candidates.

According to the latest poll by the Center for Political Research and Studies (CIEP) at the state-run University of Costa Rica, Fernández has 44 percent of voter intention, followed by Álvaro Ramos and Claudia Dobles, both with 9 percent.