Costa Rica's new president, Laura Fernandez, was officially sworn in on Friday in San José, promising a relentless fight against the crime that is increasingly plaguing this country, long considered one of the most stable and peaceful in Central America.
Aged 39, this right-wing leader announced her intention to undertake profound reforms of the judicial system and security laws in order to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
During her inaugural address at the Estadio Nacional, Laura Fernandez denounced the infiltration of institutions by criminal networks and stated that the country could no longer "normalize the shame" associated with this situation.
"Costa Rica cannot accept that drug traffickers find loopholes in our system," she said, promising to carry out the reforms "without fear."
Just days before taking office, the new president had already set the tone by appointing Gerald Campos as Minister of Security. She had then promised a "relentless war against organized crime."
Costa Rica, which abolished its army in 1948, has long been seen as an exception in a region marked by dictatorships, armed conflict, and political violence. But in recent years, the country has experienced a dramatic rise in homicides and drug trafficking, fueled by international cartels using its territory as a transit zone.
The arrival of Laura Fernandez to power thus marks a major security turning point for this nation renowned for its democratic stability, as the population demands firmer measures in the face of rising insecurity.
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