Costa Rican prosecutors accuse president, other high-ranking officials of illegal campaign finance
Associated Press3 days
Costa Rica: President Chaves Formally Accused of Illegal Campaign Finance
Above: Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves in the French riviera city of Nice, on June 9, 2025. Image copyright: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
There's simply no legal support for these accusations, especially as private campaign activities are not related to criminal laws. These charges show that the opposition forces have now weaponized the country's legal system through the Public Prosecutor's Office in a desperate attempt to undermine a popular president and distract the nation from the arrest and extradition of Gamboa.
Government-critical narrative
Once again, Chaves is attacking democratic institutions and horizontal accountability mechanisms, showing his authoritarian tendencies that have been a threat to Costa Rica's democratic stability. His confrontational approach toward Congress, the judiciary, and electoral authorities represents a strategy of delegitimizing opposition forces while maintaining popularity through anti-institutional rhetoric.