Costa Rica's outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves will retain sweeping governmental authority and legal immunity from corruption prosecution after his successor announced Tuesday he will serve as both Minister of the Presidency and Minister of Finance in her incoming administration.
President-elect Laura Fernández, who takes office Friday, revealed the unprecedented arrangement at a public event in San José, declaring that "just as we have done since the first day of your administration, we will continue working very well as a team." The dual ministerial appointments will give Chaves significant control over the next government while shielding him from legal accountability as prosecutors pursue allegations of illegal campaign finance and corruption charges that he has denied.
An Unprecedented Power Arrangement
The arrangement marks a sharp departure from Costa Rican democratic norms, concentrating power in the hands of a leader facing serious legal scrutiny. Fernández campaigned on a platform of "continuity" in February elections, and many ministers and leaders from Chaves' government will remain in their previous positions or swap roles. Fernández herself previously served as Minister to the President under Chaves, the role the outgoing leader will now assume alongside his finance portfolio.
Chaves, described as a firebrand populist who has aligned himself with U.S. President Donald Trump, is known for attacking media outlets and critics. He has sought to model himself after El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele by implementing harsh crackdowns on crime in the historically peaceful Central American nation. Recently, Chaves agreed to accept 25 third-country deportees per week from the U.S. His government was accused of pressuring the Trump administration to strip the board of directors of a critical newspaper of their visas.
Legal Troubles and Immunity Protection
The ministerial appointments preserve the immunity Chaves enjoyed as president while facing mounting legal troubles. One year ago, Chaves' presidency was rocked by scandal when Costa Rican prosecutors accused him of illegal campaign finance violations and corruption. Prosecutors alleged that Chaves pressured a close associate and government contractor to divert a portion of contract funds to a former campaign adviser.
Costa Rica's legislature has attempted twice to strip Chaves of his immunity, failing both times. With his appointment as a minister, another attempt appears unlikely, particularly as the ruling party now holds a majority in the legislature. Chaves has characterized the accusations as political revenge by the country's attorney general and Supreme Court magistrates.
Opposition Voices Alarm
Costa Rica's opposition politicians sharply criticized the appointment. Legislator José María Villalta said Tuesday the move was a blatant attempt to "grant or preserve immunity for controversial politicians from the outgoing government rather than to improve the functioning of institutions."
The arrangement raises fundamental questions about accountability in Costa Rican democracy, as a leader facing corruption charges will now oversee both the presidency's operations and the nation's finances while remaining legally untouchable.
Why This Matters:
This unprecedented consolidation of power undermines Costa Rica's tradition of democratic accountability and institutional independence. By appointing a leader facing corruption charges to control both presidential operations and national finances while preserving his legal immunity, the incoming administration signals that political loyalty may trump transparency and the rule of law. The arrangement effectively places financial oversight and executive coordination in the hands of someone prosecutors allege misused public funds and pressured contractors for political gain. For a nation long celebrated as Central America's most stable democracy, this departure from institutional norms threatens to normalize immunity from prosecution for powerful officials, weakening the checks and balances that protect citizens from governmental abuse. The concentration of authority in Chaves' hands, despite pending legal questions about his conduct, sets a troubling precedent that could embolden future leaders to evade accountability through strategic appointments rather than facing democratic scrutiny.