Laura Fernández SAN JOSE, Feb 02 (BBC): The candidate for the governing conservative Sovereign People's Party, Laura Fernández, has won the presidential election in Costa Rica.
With more than 88% of the votes counted, Fernández had over 48% of the votes, far ahead of the second-placed centrist candidate, Álvaro Ramos, who conceded defeat.
Fernández ran on a promise to deepen the tough-on-crime approach of the outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, who had handpicked her as his successor.
Voters had said they were concerned about a surge in drug-related violence in the Central American country.
The size of her vote share - which exceeded the 40% needed to win outright in the first round - means that there is no need for a run-off. Fernández will be sworn in on 8 May.
In her victory speech, the 39-year-old said she would plough ahead with the policies introduced by Chaves, whose chief of staff she was.
Under Costa Rica's constitution, presidents are not allowed to serve two consecutive terms and Chaves was therefore barred from standing for re-election. Fernández has hinted she may appoint him to a post in her cabinet.
Costa Rica, one of Central America's safest countries and a stable democracy, has seen a rise in crime over the past years.
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