In a resounding victory for the sanctity of unborn life, Costa Rica’s newly elected President Laura Fernández has boldly proclaimed abortion “nothing more than murder,” vowing to defend the innocent from conception onward. Fernández, who secured 48.3% of the vote in the February 2, 2026, election, outpaced rivals in a landslide, earning a mandate to extend outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves’ conservative agenda on family values, economic freedom, and border security.
As former planning minister and Chaves’ chief of staff, Fernández campaigned fiercely on pro-life principles. She championed a bill to stiffen abortion penalties, arguing: “Defending the lives of Costa Ricans who have not yet been born is an obligation of the State. Abortion is nothing more than murder and, therefore, penalties must be toughened.” The proposal hikes sentences to 4-6 years for women consenting to or causing their own abortions (up from 1-3 years) and up to 12 years for non-consensual procedures (up from 3-10 years).
Building on Chaves’ reforms, which narrowed legal abortions solely to cases endangering the mother’s life—eliminating vague “health” exceptions—Fernández’s stance reaffirms Costa Rica’s commitment to biological truth and moral clarity.
This electoral win, fueled by faith-based and conservative voters, signals a rejection of leftist ideologies that devalue human dignity. Fernández’s administration promises to prioritize protections for the vulnerable unborn, fostering a culture of life amid global assaults on family foundations.