Q COSTARICA — The president of the Legislative Assembly, Yara Jiménez, decided to shelve the reports prepared by the special commission that investigated the alleged sexual abuse committed by former legislator Fabricio Alvarado during the previous administration, sparking a strong reaction from opposition legislators.
In her resolution, Jiménez concluded that the Legislative Assembly lost its capacity to impose moral sanctions once the accused ceased to hold office.
However, Alvarado still faces three complaints of alleged sexual abuse before the Fiscalía—Attorney General’s Office—including one filed by former legislator Mariulin Azofeifa.
The decision by Jiménez generated immediate reactions from various legislative factions, who described the closure of the process as a message of impunity regarding the accusations of violence and sexual harassment.
“The Legislative Assembly Presidency chose to protect Fabricio Alvarado instead of sending a clear message against harassment, bullying, and sexual violence,” stated legislator Claudia Dobles, the only member of the Coalición Agenda Ciudadana (CAC) party.
“First, I want to say that as a woman, I am absolutely outraged by the disgrace we have just witnessed today in this plenary session. Even worse, that this disgrace was defended by other women. It is important to state that it is absolutely false that this plenary session cannot conclude the disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Fabricio Alvarado,” Dobles added.
The sole legislator of the of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), Abril Gordienko López, stated that the ruling party “turned its back” on President Laura Fernández, who publicly denounced alleged acts of harassment by Alvarado during the election campaign.
Laura Fernández, during the last election campaign, denounced Alvarado for alleged mistreatment while she worked in his office.
“I can never forget when he cornered me in an office with the false promise—how delicate—of giving me a Bible. I will never be afraid to raise my voice for justice, for the thousands of Costa Ricans who have been victims of a bunch of swine,” Fernández said during the Radio Columbia debate.
However, Fernández has asserted that her complaint against Alvarado did not escalate to the levels of those of Azofeifa and other victims.
For his part, Frente Amplio party leader, José María Villalta, asserted that what happened represents a setback in the fight against sexual harassment within public institutions.
“We have witnessed a shameful act, lacking any legal basis, which actually guarantees and reinforces impunity for sexual harassers. We have seen how this resolution by the Speaker seeks to institutionalize a protection network for sexual harassers, sending a dangerous and regrettable message,” Villalta stated.
The special commission had been created to analyze the complaints against the former legislator and determine any potential political and administrative responsibilities within the parliamentary sphere.
Although the opposition will appeal Jiménez’s decision, they are unlikely to win, as 38 votes are required, and the ruling party, the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), to which the President of the Legislature belongs, holds 31 of the 57 votes.
Jiménez, who assumed on May 1 the presidency of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica for the 2026-2027 term, has been criticized by opposition groups and the media due to her close relationship and political affinity with former President Rodrigo Chaves and former legislator Pilar Cisneros, recognized as a key leader of the ruling party (“Chavismo”). Both Chaves and Cisneros have been linked to the political protection of Alvarado from accusations.