RICO’s Q — A few days ago, journalist Juan Fernando Lara searched for and read Laura Fernández’s thesis, written for her Political Science degree at the University of Costa Rica (UCR).
It turns out that the journalist found that in 2016, ten years ago, when Laura was 29 years old, she wrote her thesis, in which she heaped praise on:
- The Contraloría General de la República (Comptroller General).
- The Separation of Powers.
- The Judiciary.
In other words, a decade ago, Laura believed in the rule of law, in the democracy of a Republic with three independent branches of government — Executive, Legislative and Judicial — as established in Costa Rica’s Constitution.
Now, look at the curious twists and turns Laura has taken.
It turns out that 6 years before graduating, when Laura was 22, she visited the two-time former president of Costa Rica (1986-1990 and 2006-2020) and the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1987, Óscar Arias Sánchez, at his home Rohrmoser.
We must wonder this: Why would a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with so many international and national activities, dedicate an entire afternoon to “having coffee” with a 22-year-old girl in his private home?
Well, it turns out that shortly after, and without even having a university degree, Laura Fernández appears as an “advisor” to Vice President Kevin Casas, in the same government (2006-2010) of Don Óscar.
That role was followed up with Roberto Gallardo, who was Minister of Planificación (Mideplán) in the Laura Chinchilla administration (2010-2014).
Gallardo recalls that he always heard her express positions in favor of institutionalism and the checks and balances of the democratic system. Other people who have worked with her attribute to her opportunism and an ability to make her bosses need her, according to a report by SemanarioUniversidad.com in 2025.
A surprise! Right?
A young woman who hasn’t even graduated yet is already an “advisor” to the Vice President at Casa Presidencial.
But let’s get back to Laura Fernández’s thesis.
It turns out that in her thesis, Laura stated that there was a danger that a populist politician might one day come to power and try to destroy Costa Rica’s Comptroller General’s Office and the Judiciary.
The only thing she failed to mention is that this POLITICAL OFFICER would have:
- 65 criminal cases for serious offenses
- Rumored to be an alcoholic
- Who uses vulgar language in public
- Who was sanctioned for sexual harassment
Now, who could that be?
Life’s funny this way…!