Costa Rica’s Crime-Driven Election Looms Over a Crowded Field

As Costa Rica heads to the polls, voters cite security as the top concern amid rising violence and a record 905 homicides in 2023, even as a crowded presidential field and growing political apathy shape the race. Front-runner Laura Fernández leads in polls, but many voters remain undecided, and experts note growth has largely benefited free-trade zones rather than the domestic economy, complicating the public's desire for stronger social services, pension stability, and environmental policy.