In a dramatic turn of events that has gripped Costa Rica, President Rodrigo Chaves has survived a historic attempt by lawmakers to strip him of his immunity and open the door for prosecution on corruption charges. The vote, held on September 23, 2025, in the country’s Legislative Assembly, fell short of the required 38-vote supermajority, with only 34 lawmakers supporting the measure, 21 voting against, and two absent. This unprecedented moment marks the first time in Costa Rica’s history that such a vote has been held against a sitting president, according to reporting by the Associated Press and Devdiscourse.
The effort to lift President Chaves’ immunity stemmed from allegations brought by prosecutors. They assert that Chaves pressured a video producer—who had secured a contract with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration—to divert a portion of the funds to a former campaign adviser. The case, which has unfolded over recent months, has stoked heated debate in Costa Rica about political accountability, the power of the presidency, and the role of the judiciary.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new health center in Carrillo, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, President Chaves did not hold back his feelings about the vote and the process that led to it. He lashed out at the lawmakers who sought to remove his immunity, as well as the Supreme Court magistrates who had previously voted to send the case to congress. Chaves characterized the entire proceeding as a “political show,” a phrase that encapsulated his deep frustration and sense of vindication after the failed vote.
“The positive part of this is that I woke up happy, I woke up hopeful,” Chaves told supporters and the media at the event, as quoted by the Associated Press. “Because again the country respected the great majority of Costa Ricans who clamor to erase the historic error of some who tried to intimidate the president of the republic, and as a result, the enormous majority of the people who support me.” His remarks underscored his belief that the effort to prosecute him was less about justice and more about political maneuvering by his opponents.
The failed attempt to lift Chaves’ immunity has left many in Costa Rica divided. Supporters of the president argue that the vote’s outcome reflects the will of the people and the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions. Critics, meanwhile, contend that the result may set a troubling precedent, making it more difficult to hold powerful officials accountable for alleged misconduct while in office.
Attorney General Carlo Díaz, who has been at the forefront of the investigation, responded to the outcome with a measured statement. “This doesn’t mean that the investigation is over, nor that the criminal action dies; the case will persist waiting for when the president doesn’t have immunity,” Díaz said, as reported by the Associated Press. He emphasized that while President Chaves remains shielded from prosecution until his term ends in May 2026, the investigation is far from closed. Díaz also made it clear that he would respect the decision of the Legislative Assembly, demonstrating deference to the country’s constitutional processes even as he pursues the case against the president.
The political drama that unfolded in the Legislative Assembly was as tense as it was historic. For the motion to succeed, a supermajority of 38 votes was required. In the end, only 34 lawmakers voted in favor of lifting Chaves’ immunity, falling four votes short. With 21 voting against and two absent, the outcome was decisive, if not overwhelming. The vote’s failure means that, for now, Chaves cannot be prosecuted for the alleged corruption, and the investigation will remain in a kind of legal limbo until his term concludes.
The allegations at the heart of the case are serious. Prosecutors claim that Chaves, leveraging his position as president, pressured a video producer who had secured a lucrative contract with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. The expectation, according to the prosecution, was that some of the contract’s proceeds would be funneled to a former campaign adviser of Chaves. The details of the case have not been fully disclosed to the public, but the accusations have been enough to prompt the Supreme Court to refer the matter to congress—a rare and weighty step in Costa Rican politics.
Chaves’ combative response to the proceedings has only heightened the sense of political theater. By framing the effort as a “political show,” he has cast himself as a victim of partisan attacks, while his critics argue that such rhetoric is an attempt to deflect attention from the substance of the allegations. The president’s public statements have been both defiant and celebratory, reflecting his confidence in the support he claims from the Costa Rican people.
The broader implications of the failed vote are likely to reverberate through Costa Rican politics for some time. For one, the episode has exposed deep divisions within the Legislative Assembly and between the branches of government. It has also raised questions about the effectiveness of existing mechanisms for holding public officials accountable, particularly when those officials occupy the highest office in the land.
Observers note that the case has put Attorney General Díaz in a challenging position. On one hand, he is tasked with upholding the rule of law and pursuing credible allegations of wrongdoing. On the other, he must navigate the political sensitivities of prosecuting a sitting president—a move that, as this week’s vote demonstrates, is fraught with legal and constitutional obstacles.
For now, President Chaves remains in office, immune from prosecution but not from scrutiny. The investigation led by Díaz will continue to gather evidence and pursue leads, with the expectation that the case could be revived once Chaves leaves office in May 2026. Until then, the political climate in Costa Rica is likely to remain charged, with both supporters and detractors of the president watching closely for any new developments.
As the dust settles from this historic vote, Costa Rica finds itself at a crossroads. The country’s institutions have been tested, and the world is watching to see how it will balance the demands of justice, democracy, and political stability. For President Chaves, the immediate threat of prosecution has passed, but the shadow of the investigation—and the questions it raises—will linger long after the final vote was cast.