San José.- Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele arrived in Costa Rica this Tuesday on an official visit during which he will lay the first stone of a prison inspired by the model he implemented in El Salvador to fight gangs, a trip that has generated controversy for taking place in the midst of an electoral campaign.
Bukele arrived at Base 2 of the Ministry of Security of Costa Rica, located at Juan Santamaría airport, and was received by Costa Rican Vice President Mary Munive and the Foreign Minister, Arnoldo André.
Bukele’s controversial visit takes place in the midst of a political campaign in Costa Rica leading up to the elections on February 1st, in which the official candidate, Laura Fernández, is leading in the polls.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica (TSE) rejected on Monday an appeal filed by a citizen who intended to prevent Bukele’s visit, but warned that the president cannot intervene in internal affairs.
“The taking of a position by a foreign leader – in favor or against any of the political options in contention – would constitute a violation of Public International Law,” explained the TSE in the resolution published this Monday.
The New Megaprison in Costa Rica
Bukele will lay the first stone of the High Containment Center for Organized Crime (CACCO) on Wednesday, a work inspired by the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the Salvadoran mega-prison for gang members and a symbol of the “war” of Bukele’s government against these gangs.
The future Costa Rican prison, which will cost 35 million dollars, will have five modules with a total capacity of 5,100 inmates, and according to the Government, it will serve to incarcerate the most violent prisoners there.
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The project is being developed at a time when Costa Rica is facing record-high homicide figures with around 900 each year, of which authorities attribute 70% to drug trafficking.
Last December, Chaves visited El Salvador, where he met with Bukele and toured the CECOT.
On his part, Bukele had already visited Costa Rica on November 12, 2024, and toured the main prison of that country, known as La Reforma, and warned of “symptoms” of criminality similar to those faced by El Salvador with gangs.
On September 24th, during an official inauguration of scanners in ports, the Presidential House of Costa Rica released a video in which Bukele launched a message in favor of the “continuity” of projects of the Chaves government, which was used by the official candidate, Laura Fernández, for her campaign.
“If the next Administration continues the projects of this Government, I have no doubt that the best days of Costa Rica are yet to come, a safer and more prosperous Costa Rica,” Bukele said in that video.
