Costa Rica Supreme Electoral Tribunal rejects reelection reform bill

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Costa Rica has declared a proposed bill to modify the reelection system for its magistrates unconstitutional. The initiative, introduced by Deputy Wilson Jiménez Cordero, would require a two-thirds majority vote from the Supreme Court of Justice to allow for the reelection of electoral magistrates.

In official document TSE-2114-2026, the Tribunal argued that the reform would invert current rules and undermine judicial independence. The TSE stated that the change exposes magistrates to pressures that could compromise their functions, noting that the reform is “contrary to international human rights obligations by precariousness the conditions to exercise the electoral function with independence.”

Under the current system, reelection is prevented if at least 15 of the 22 Supreme Court magistrates vote against it. The TSE maintains that the proposed shift to a two-thirds requirement weakens the stability and autonomy of the electoral body.