Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

Right-wing candidate Laura Fernandez has taken a strong early lead in Costa Rica’s presidential election, according to preliminary results reported by Al Jazeera.

Early counts from roughly 31 per cent of polling stations showed Fernandez, representing the governing Sovereign People Party (PPSO), securing 53.01 per cent of the vote, giving her a comfortable edge in the initial tally.

Trailing her was Alvaro Ramos of the centre-left National Liberation Party with 30.05 per cent, while former First Lady Claudia Dobles came in third with 3.9 per cent. Fernandez needs at least 40 per cent of the vote to win outright and avoid a run-off election on April 5.

The 39-year-old politician has campaigned as the chosen successor of incumbent President Rodrigo Chaves, promising to continue his tough approach on law and order. Rising crime has become a central concern in the traditionally peaceful nation, shaping voter priorities. While some critics blame Chaves’s government for the increase in violence, others support his hard-line measures as the most effective way to restore public safety.

Fernandez’s close alignment with Chaves is evident from her previous roles in his administration, including as minister of national planning and economic policy and later as minister of the presidency.

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Alongside the presidential race, Costa Ricans also voted for members of the 57-seat National Assembly. Chaves’s party is expected to make gains, though it may fall short of the supermajority required to appoint Supreme Court magistrates and wield other key powers.

Of the 20 candidates contesting the presidency, preliminary results indicate that only Fernandez and Ramos have surpassed the 5 per cent threshold, highlighting their dominance in the early vote count.