Outgoing Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves will assume two top ministerial posts in the incoming administration, securing continued immunity from corruption allegations, president-elect Laura Fernández announced Tuesday. This unprecedented arrangement ensures Chaves, accused of illegal campaign finance and pressuring a government contractor for money, retains significant influence over state resources while evading accountability. Fernández, who is set to take office on Friday, stated at a public event in San José, “Just as we have done since the first day of your administration, we will continue working very well as a team.”
Chaves will hold the positions of Minister of the Presidency and Minister of Finance in the new government. This move directly preserves the immunity he enjoyed as president, shielding him from legal troubles that rocked his administration one year ago. Prosecutors accused Chaves of illegal campaign finance and corruption charges, specifically alleging he pressured a close associate and government contractor to divert a portion of contract money to a former campaign adviser. Chaves has denied these accusations, claiming they are "political revenge" by the country’s attorney general and Supreme Court magistrates.
Immunity for the Ruling Class
Costa Rica’s legislature previously attempted and failed twice to strip Chaves of his immunity. With his new appointment as a minister, another such attempt appears unlikely, particularly as the ruling party now commands a majority in the legislature. Opposition politicians have condemned the arrangement. Legislator José María Villalta stated Tuesday that the appointment was a blatant attempt to “grant or preserve immunity for controversial politicians from the outgoing government rather than to improve the functioning of institutions.” This structural maneuver demonstrates how the state apparatus can be deployed to protect accumulated wealth and power, rather than to uphold any pretense of impartial justice.
The incoming administration, led by Fernández, campaigned on a platform of “continuity” in the lead-up to the February elections held this same year. Many ministers and leaders from Chaves’ government will remain in their previous positions or swap roles, solidifying the existing power structure. Fernández herself previously served as Minister to the President under Chaves, the very role he will now assume. This revolving door of officials ensures that the mechanisms of surplus extraction and control remain firmly in place, managed by a familiar cast of characters.
The State's Role in Protection
Chaves, described as a firebrand populist, has cultivated ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. His administration has been characterized by lashing out at media and critics, and he has sought to emulate El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele through a crackdown on crime. These actions serve to suppress dissent and maintain social order, often at the expense of the working class and marginalized populations, under the guise of public safety.
Further demonstrating the state's role in protecting political and economic interests, Chaves’ government was accused of pushing the Trump administration to strip the visas of the board of directors of a critical newspaper. This direct assault on independent media reveals the lengths to which state power will go to silence opposition and control narratives that might challenge the existing distribution of power. Additionally, Chaves recently agreed to accept 25 third-country deportees per week from the U.S., aligning Costa Rica’s policies with the imperial interests of foreign capital. This agreement positions the nation as an auxiliary to the U.S. immigration enforcement machine, further entrenching its role within global capitalist structures.