Costa Rica: President Fernández announces housing for police and pension reforms

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández is implementing several significant policy shifts and facing domestic challenges. Her administration has announced that 10% of government housing projects will be reserved for police families to provide housing alternatives in lieu of salary increases. Additionally, Fernández has proposed a law to eliminate luxury lifetime pensions for former presidents, a measure that would apply to her own future term and her predecessor, Rodrigo Chaves.

On the security front, the government is adopting prison models similar to El Salvador's to prevent gang leaders from coordinating crimes from within facilities. In Cartago, the president has ordered increased police deployment following a surge in violence and 51 homicides, while criticizing the judiciary for releasing criminal suspects. This follows the successful capture of two individuals on the “most wanted” list in Cartago as part of Operation Cacería.

Administratively, the government is navigating its first cabinet resignation with the departure of Julián Arias Varela, the Vice-Minister of Agriculture. Meanwhile, political tensions remain high as Fernández has called on opposition lawmakers to cease “political interest” and work constructively, citing legislative blocks on key security and economic projects.