The President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, could become the first sitting president in the country’s history to lose immunity from prosecution after a request by the Supreme Court to bring corruption charges against him. File photo by Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA
July 10 (UPI) -- Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves could become the first sitting president in the country's history to lose immunity from prosecution after a landmark request by the Supreme Court to bring corruption charges against him.
The decision now rests with Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly, where a two-thirds majority -- 38 of 57 lawmakers -- is required to lift the president's immunity. With only eight seats aligned with Chaves' administration, the outcome depends on support from a fragmented, but numerically dominant, opposition.
The controversy began July 1, when the Supreme Court formally asked the Legislative Assembly to lift Chaves' immunity so he can face corruption charges.
Prosecutors allege that in April 2025, Chaves asked a businessman to pay $32,000 to his former image consultant in exchange for previously awarding a $400,000 contract funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. The contract was awarded in 2022, shortly after Chaves took office.
