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Associated Press
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Costa Rican president's Cabinet resigns en masse to secure congressional majority
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves announced a mass exodus from his Cabinet Wednesday, a move to secure a congressional majority for his party in next year's election. Six Cabinet ministers, as well as his vice president, resigned on the final day of eligibility to compete in the 2026 general election. There had been talk that maybe even Chaves himself would step down before his term ends next year to run in order to give his party the best chance of winning, but he dismissed that possibility Wednesday. 'The decision was to stay president of the republic, I'm not going to resign,' Chaves said in a news conference, adding that his administration's public support was so robust it wasn't necessary for him to lead the campaign. In addition to Vice President Stephan Brunner, the ministers in charge of the treasury, planning, housing and the well-being of women are among those leaving the administration Thursday. While it remained unconfirmed if all would appear on the Sovereign Peoples Party ballot, Chaves said he admired 'their desire to continue serving Costa Rica from other spaces.' Chaves says a supermajority in Congress would allow his party to make the deeper changes he wants, including a sweeping security agenda to address homicides and changes to labor laws that he hasn't been able to pass over congressional opposition. Presidential reelection is prohibited under Costa Rican law. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Washington Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Costa Rican prosecutors accuse president, other high-ranking officials of illegal campaign finance
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rican prosecutors accused President Rodrigo Chaves, the vice president, foreign affairs minister and four lawmakers from Chaves' party of illegal campaign finance Monday. The accusations stem from their use of funds in the 2022 election that carried Chaves to power. The Attorney General's Office said in a statement that it had also asked the country's Supreme Court to lift Chaves' immunity so that he can be prosecuted. Prosecutors said Chaves and the others used a private fund and private bank accounts to finance the campaign of Chaves' Social Democratic Progress Party. Chaves ' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The others accused include Vice President Stephan Brunner, Foreign Affairs Minister Arnoldo André and lawmakers Pilar Cisneros, Luz Mary Alpízar, Paola Nájera and Waldo Agüero. 'Both financing routes operated outside the control of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the party's treasury as required by the electoral code,' prosecutors said in the statement. By doing so, the politicians allegedly violated principles of legality and transparency that govern campaign finance, 'affecting the integrity of the electoral process.' The politicians will only face trial if the Supreme Court agrees to suspend their immunity from prosecution.
Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Costa Rican prosecutors accuse president, other high-ranking officials of illegal campaign finance
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rican prosecutors accused President Rodrigo Chaves, the vice president, foreign affairs minister and four lawmakers from Chaves' party of illegal campaign finance Monday. The accusations stem from their use of funds in the 2022 election that carried Chaves to power. The Attorney General's Office said in a statement that it had also asked the country's Supreme Court to lift Chaves' immunity so that he can be prosecuted. Prosecutors said Chaves and the others used a private fund and private bank accounts to finance the campaign of Chaves' Social Democratic Progress Party. Chaves ' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The others accused include Vice President Stephan Brunner, Foreign Affairs Minister Arnoldo André and lawmakers Pilar Cisneros, Luz Mary Alpízar, Paola Nájera and Waldo Agüero. 'Both financing routes operated outside the control of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the party's treasury as required by the electoral code,' prosecutors said in the statement. By doing so, the politicians allegedly violated principles of legality and transparency that govern campaign finance, 'affecting the integrity of the electoral process.' The politicians will only face trial if the Supreme Court agrees to suspend their immunity from prosecution.
