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Laura Fernández (left), then a presidential candidate, with Fernando Obaldía (right), then a congressional candidate, during a meeting in October 2025 on the presidential campaign trail.
Photo via Fernando Obaldía's public social media.

Costa Rica Lawmaker From President Fernández’s Party Faces Three Harassment Complaints

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Published on Wednesday, September 9, 2026

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Fernando Obaldía-Álvarez, a Costa Rican lawmaker from the Partido Pueblo Soberano, the political party of President Laura Fernández, is facing three complaints involving alleged harassment, including one workplace harassment complaint and two complaints alleging predatory harassment.

Obaldía, 66, represents the province of Alajuela in the Congress. He is a private accountant by profession and was elected to a 2026-2030 term in the presidential elections held in February.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, predatory harassment can occur when a person repeatedly and persistently harasses or stalks another person without the victim’s consent, affecting the person’s privacy, personal integrity, private life or everyday activities.

Workplace harassment, or “mobbing,” in Costa Rica is defined as abusive, persistent and systematic behavior, mostly psychological or moral in nature, carried out in the workplace against an employee with the purpose of intimidating, degrading, humiliating or forcing the person to resign.

The first complaint against Obaldía, involving alleged workplace harassment, was filed in June by a woman who works in the lawmaker’s office.

The alleged victim filed an administrative complaint alleging workplace harassment, mistreatment, control over female employees’ movements and other actions she considers inappropriate within the employment relationship. The complaint is being investigated by Congress authorities.

The second complaint, involving alleged predatory harassment against an adult, was filed in early September and is being investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In that case, an alleged subordinate of the lawmaker accused him of making comments about her underwear, her body and the way she dressed. She also accused him of asking questions about her sex life, including whether she used protection during sexual intercourse.

The alleged victim said the comments made by Obaldía were unsolicited and nonconsensual. She also said some of the alleged incidents occurred inside the Congress facilities in San José.

The third complaint was filed Tuesday against Obaldía, also alleging the crime of predatory harassment.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office is in the initial stage of reviewing the complaint to determine whether it should proceed. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the person who filed the complaint or provided details about the events that led to the new allegation against the lawmaker.

The Partido Pueblo Soberano issued a brief statement regarding the investigations involving Obaldía, saying the party takes any complaint filed with “absolute seriousness.”

“We are not going to minimize any situation of this nature, and we will be firm regarding any conduct that, once established through the appropriate procedures, violates the respect, dignity or integrity of people,” the party said in its statement.

The party also said that, because of the confidentiality of the proceedings, it “will not comment on details or make conclusions in advance while the proceedings are ongoing.”

Obaldía has not issued any public statements regarding the allegations of predatory harassment and workplace harassment filed against him.

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What are the penalties for lawmakers found guilty of harassment in your country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com