Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves could have his term cut short with the possible lifting of his presidential immunity. By mid-December, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Legislative Assembly will decide whether or not to lift the immunity so he can be investigated by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) for 15 counts of political campaigning.
Rocío Alfaro, a member of the Frente Amplio party and part of the committee that analyzed the issue, explained that the plan is for the full assembly to begin the vote process starting December 15, during the last week of sessions.
“The majority report has already been submitted, and the minority report will take the maximum regulatory time, so the vote could take place the week of December 15,” Alfaro said.
The case
The members of the special congressional committee submitted a majority report a couple of weeks ago, which recommends removing Chaves’ immunity.
The legislators analyzed the issue at the request of the TSE, which is investigating alleged crimes of political campaigning using public resources or making public statements to favor a political party’s presidential candidate, after being warned by the TSE on repeated occasions.
If found guilty, Chaves would be barred from holding public office for up to four years and, in the most extreme scenario, could be removed from his current position, which ends on May 8, 2026.
This is not the first time the president has faced impeachment proceedings. He was previously investigated for the alleged crime of extortion—a type of corruption—, but that request did not garner the necessary votes—the required 38 of the 57 legislators—to proceed.
If the required 38 votes are obtained, Chaves will lose his immunity.
Presidential immunity protects the president from prosecution while in office. If immunity is lifted, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) can proceed with the investigation.