Costa Rica - October 2025

On 7 October, the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) asked the legislature to lift President Rodrigo Chaves’s immunity, due to 15 cases of ‘political belligerence’ against him. The complaints are related to Chaves’s comments about candidates and parties that may violate the executive’s duty of impartiality during the electoral process. Chaves had decried recent TSE decisions restricting messaging from his government on social media. Costa Rican law forbids the use of public resources to benefit a candidate or party and bans publicizing government programs in official channels during campaign periods. In this context, Chaves doubled down on accusations that the TSE and its Chief Justice are not impartial and claimed that lifting his immunity would amount to a ‘coup’. The TSE and experts have noted the unprecedented nature of the attacks against the Court, demanding respect for its independence and credibility. The legislature will analyse the request to lift Chaves’s immunity.

Sources: La Republica (1), La Republica (2), El Observador, Infobae, DW