LatinNews Daily - 20 February 2026

*Costa Rica’s President-elect Laura Fernández, who is currently serving as minister of the presidency, has unveiled seven key projects which she has highlighted as legislative priorities once she takes office on 8 May following her victory in the 1 February general elections. These include projects floated under outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, her mentor, which include: the expansion of a highway connecting the capital San José with San Ramón canton, Alajuela province, to be funded with a US$770m loan from the Central American Development Bank (BCIE), and an electric train which will be financed by BCIE, United Nations green climate fund (GCF), and European Union for a total of US$800m. The train will include two lines comprising 51km of double track, one running from Paraíso canton, Cartago province to San José, and another between San José and downtown Alajuela canton, Alajuela province. Controversially Fernández also floated reviving the Crucitas open-pit gold mine in San Carlos canton, Alajuela province – a project which has drawn major alarm from environmentalists. Unlike Chaves, Fernández stands to have a majority in the new legislature when it takes office in May. Her Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) won 31 of the 57 seats, two more than a simple majority.

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