In last night’s heated presidential debate hosted by the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones, Laura Fernández of the Partido Pueblo Soberano came under heavy fire from rival candidates. The event, the third in a series leading up to the February 1 elections, saw Fernández defending the current administration’s record while opponents zeroed in on her past mix-up involving Peñas Blancas and broader issues like rising crime and porous borders.
The debate kicked off with questions on security, where Fernández pledged tougher penalties and a new maximum-security prison to tackle the surge in homicides. She pointed to 873 murders reported by the Judicial Investigation Agency in 2025 as a challenge the government has met head-on.
But Claudio Alpízar of the Partido Esperanza Nacional quickly turned the spotlight on Fernández’s earlier confusion between Peñas Blancas in San Ramón and the border checkpoint in La Cruz, Guanacaste—areas more than 200 kilometers apart. Alpízar used the slip to challenge her grasp of national territory, saying he would never make such an error when it comes to guarding frontiers against drug trafficking.
Fernández brushed off the remark, shifting focus to her rivals’ records. She accused them of blocking progress and tied some to outdated political ties, including communism. Yet the attacks kept coming. Eliécer Feinzaig of the Partido Liberal Progresista blamed the administration Fernández supports for over 3,300 deaths linked to violence since 2022, claiming decisions like pulling Coast Guard patrols have aided narcotraffickers.
José Aguilar of the Partido Avanza echoed this, calling out higher youth unemployment and a failing education system under the current regime. Ronny Castillo of Aquí Costa Rica Manda highlighted unspent security budgets, arguing the government has left communities exposed.
As the discussion moved to employment, Fernández touted 122,000 jobs created since 2022 and a drop in informal work to 40 percent of the labor force. Her opponents disputed these figures. Aguilar pressed her on her time as a minister, questioning why informal jobs remain so high if policies worked. Alpízar piled on, comparing the homicide tally to casualties in the 1948 Civil War to underscore what he called a deep crisis. Fernández held her ground, insisting the administration delivered on promises and warning that her rivals offered only criticism without plans.
Health access drew similar divides. Fernández highlighted 21 new community clinics and a new hospital in Puntarenas, with another planned for Limón. Castillo and Feinzaig countered that the system faces a profound breakdown, urging debt payments to the social security fund and structural fixes. Aguilar proposed cutting red tape to boost job training through the National Learning Institute, framing it as a direct fix for youth struggles.
Education rounded out the night, with Fernández defending government investments against claims of decline. Alpízar called for better rural and coastal facilities, while Feinzaig pushed curriculum reforms. The group largely agreed on the need for change but split on who could deliver it, with Fernández isolated as the defender of President Rodrigo Chaves’ policies.
Tensions peaked in personal exchanges. Alpízar accused Fernández of misleading the public and lacking honor after her public service stints. She fired back, questioning his ties to the Liberación Nacional party. Feinzaig warned voters against “chavismo” embodied by Fernández, predicting disaster if elected. In closings, Aguilar decried corruption across terms, Castillo stressed capable leadership, and Alpízar urged rejection of deceit.
Fernández skipped post-debate media questions, unlike her counterparts. The event, moderated by Lilliana Carranza and aired on Canal 13, drew crowds outside the TSE building, where supporters chanted amid tight security. With polls showing Fernández leading, the debate exposed fractures in her campaign’s narrative on safety and competence.
