A fierce row between Costa Rica’s recently elected President Laura Fernandez and the country’s judiciary is delaying a coordinated state response to violent drug-related crime in the once-peaceful Central American nation.
Reuters reported that the turmoil reflects a broader crisis across Central America, a major cocaine transit corridor to the United States’.
Costa Rica’s institutional clash, coming just two months into Fernandez’s term, has revolved around significant budget cuts imposed on the judiciary and a legislative proposal to have Congress, rather than the Supreme Court, appoint the attorney general.
Tensions rose sharply last week when Fernandez accused the judiciary of being infiltrated by organized crime “to the core” and criticized courts for blocking the “iron fist” security policies her administration champions, inspired by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Reuters reported.
Judicial officials have denied corruption allegations and challengedFernandez to provide evidence.
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