Laura Fernandez sworn in as president of Costa Rica and promises a "war" against crime

Costa Rica's new president, Laura Fernandez, was sworn in on Friday at a ceremony held in San José's national stadium. The 39-year-old right-wing leader promised to launch a "war" on crime in the Central American country, long considered one of the most stable and peaceful in the region.

In his inaugural address, Fernandez announced his intention to undertake profound reforms of the judicial system and strengthen security laws in order to fight organized crime and drug trafficking more effectively.

“Costa Rica cannot normalize the shame of having its institutions infiltrated by crime,” she said. “We cannot accept that drug traffickers find loopholes in our system.”

The new head of state also affirmed her desire to carry out these reforms "without fear," as the country experiences a rise in drug-related violence.

Last week, Laura Fernandez appointed Gerald Campos as Minister of Security, promising a "merciless" fight against criminal organizations.

Costa Rica, which abolished its army in 1948, is historically considered one of the most stable democracies in Latin America. But in recent years, the country has faced a rise in homicides and an increased presence of international drug trafficking networks.