Laura Fernández was sworn in Friday as president of Costa Rica, with outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves also taking on senior roles in the new administration, according to the Associated Press. Fernández, who is a political scientist and the second woman to lead the Central American country, presented the transition as the continuation of the political movement that Chaves helped establish.
Chaves, described by the AP as an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, will serve as both minister of the presidency and minister of finance in Fernández’s government. AP reported that the decision to keep Chaves in the administration is unprecedented in Costa Rican politics and is likely to give the outgoing leader significant influence over the next government.
The minister of the presidency role carries responsibilities that include mediating between the executive branch and the Legislative Assembly, a key function in the relationship between Costa Rica’s branches of government. AP said Fernández’s appointments for Chaves grant him additional four years of legal immunity, a protection described as shielding him from investigations that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal had led regarding alleged corruption.
AP also reported that the planned retention of Chaves came against a backdrop of repeated efforts to strip his immunity while he served as president. It said those attempts included two unsuccessful legislative efforts: one in September 2025 involving allegations that he pressured officials to favor a former adviser, and another in December after the Supreme Electoral Tribunal sought an inquiry into his alleged “political belligerence” during the electoral campaign.
In a separate personnel move, AP reported that Fernández appointed her second vice president, Douglas Soto, as ambassador to Washington. The AP described the appointment as a strategic placement meant to bolster ties with the Trump presidency through a direct diplomatic link.
U.S. representation also featured in the inauguration coverage. AP reported that Kristi Noem, the U.S. special envoy to a Trump-announced coalition aimed at combating regional crime, was in San Jose on Friday to represent the Trump administration at Fernández’s swearing-in. The AP said Noem had previously met with Chaves in March to finalize a deal under which Costa Rica receives up to 25 U.S. deportees weekly.