Published on Monday, May 4, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles is set to deliver his fourth and final annual address to Congress (Legislative Assembly) on Monday, outlining the achievements of his administration.

According to the authorities, the formal session will begin at 3 p.m. at lawmakers’ facilities in downtown San José. The event is expected to be attended by government officials, diplomats and key political leaders.

Chaves will present his report to a Congress in which a majority of lawmakers (31 members) belong to the Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO), a political group aligned with the government.

The new members of Congress were sworn in on Friday after being elected by direct vote in February’s general elections. In those elections, Laura Fernández-Delgado was chosen as the country’s 50th president for the 2026–2030 term.


Chaves’ speech is expected to last about one hour and focus on key national issues, including security, the economy, education, health care and road infrastructure.


On security, the president is expected to highlight efforts made during his four-year administration to reduce crime, including the construction of a new $35 million correctional facility aimed at easing prison overcrowding.

In January, President Chaves and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele-Ortez led the groundbreaking ceremony for what will become Costa Rica’s new maximum-security prison, the Center for High Containment of Organized Crime (CACCO) in Alajuela Province.

In a related development during his time in office, a legal amendment was approved that took effect in May 2025, allowing Costa Rica to extradite citizens, by birth or naturalization, to countries with which it maintains extradition treaties.

On the economy, Chaves is expected to emphasize his administration’s efforts to keep inflation under control, achieve record export levels and maintain currency stability, with the colón remaining below ₡500 per U.S. dollar.

Costa Rica’s exports reached a record of more than $22.8 billion in 2025, representing a 14% increase compared with 2024.

Chaves’ presidency has also faced controversy. One of the most notable episodes occurred in 2025, when Congress voted on two separate accusations and allowed Chaves to retain his constitutional immunity in a corruption-related case, preventing criminal charges from proceeding while he remained in office. 

Chaves is the first president in Costa Rican history to face two separate congressional proceedings seeking to strip him of immunity.

The president’s next official event is scheduled for Friday, May 8, when he will transfer power to President-elect Fernández Delgado, who will be sworn in and begin her four-year term, running through May 8, 2030.

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What do you consider President Chaves’ biggest achievement during his administration? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com