Laura Fernández defends Costa Rican democracy following large protests

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández responded to a large-scale protest held at the Plaza de la Democracia near the Legislative Assembly. The demonstration, which drew thousands of participants including former presidents, opposition deputies, and university representatives, focused on defending the independence and respect between the three branches of government.

President Fernández stated that the ability of citizens to protest peacefully is a sign that Costa Rica is a "democracia viva" (living democracy). She defended her administration against accusations of authoritarianism, noting that she did not deploy riot police to suppress the gathering.

Critics, however, have challenged her rhetoric. Some observers pointed to perceived authoritarian tendencies in recent government decisions and noted a shift in political stance from previous administration leaders who had characterized the country's political landscape differently. Additionally, the President addressed controversies regarding pension amounts for former presidents, stating she does not oppose pensions for those in need but rejects excessively high amounts.