Costa Rica
Legislative Assembly
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections
Background
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
06.02.2022
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
30.04.2022
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
57
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal
Candidates
Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,499
Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
762
Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
737
Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
49.17%
Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
25
Voter turnout
Registration
Number of people registered to vote
3,541,908
Votes
Number of people who actually voted
1,853,719
Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
52.34%
Results
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
As in the previous elections, no party won an outright majority in the 57-member Legislative Assembly. The National Liberation Party (PLN), which nominated former President José María Figueres as its presidential candidate, came first with 19 seats. It took nearly twice as many seats as the Democratic Social Progress Party (PPSD), which nominated former finance minister and official of the World Bank, Rodrigo Chaves, as its presidential candidate. Four other parties took fewer than 10 seats each.
In the presidential elections, no candidate secured the required 40% of the vote to be elected in the first round, which is held in parallel with the parliamentary polls. In the run-off elections held on 3 April, Mr. Chaves (PPSD) defeated Mr. Figueres (PLN). On 8 May, Mr. Chaves was sworn in as the new President, replacing Mr. Carlos Alvarado Quesada of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC), which did not win any seats in 2022.
The 2022 elections followed the global COVID-19 pandemic, which severely affected the country’s tourism industry. They were held amid rising unemployment and a soaring budget deficit.
In the presidential elections, no candidate secured the required 40% of the vote to be elected in the first round, which is held in parallel with the parliamentary polls. In the run-off elections held on 3 April, Mr. Chaves (PPSD) defeated Mr. Figueres (PLN). On 8 May, Mr. Chaves was sworn in as the new President, replacing Mr. Carlos Alvarado Quesada of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC), which did not win any seats in 2022.
The 2022 elections followed the global COVID-19 pandemic, which severely affected the country’s tourism industry. They were held amid rising unemployment and a soaring budget deficit.
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
6
Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
24%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
33.33%
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Political group | Total |
|---|---|
| National Liberation Party (PLN) | 19 |
| Democratic Social Progress Party (PPSD) | 10 |
| Christian Social Unity Party (USC) | 9 |
| New Republic Party (NR) | 7 |
| Broad Front (FA) | 6 |
| Progressive Liberal Party (LP) | 6 |
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
30
Number of women elected
27
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
47.37%
Other notes
Note on the expected date of next elections:
In accordance with Article 150 of the Electoral Code and Article 107 of the Constitution, parliamentary elections are held on the first Sunday of February every four years.
In accordance with Article 150 of the Electoral Code and Article 107 of the Constitution, parliamentary elections are held on the first Sunday of February every four years.
Sources
Legislative Assembly (18.03.2022, 14.09.2022, 20.12.2022)
https://www.tse.go.cr/svr2022/#
https://www.tse.go.cr/vr2022/#/legislativas
https://www.tse.go.cr/vr2022/#/presidenciales
Reuters
https://www.aljazeera.com
https://www.tse.go.cr/svr2022/#
https://www.tse.go.cr/vr2022/#/legislativas
https://www.tse.go.cr/vr2022/#/presidenciales
Reuters
https://www.aljazeera.com
Women Directly Elected
27
New legislature
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
30
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
27
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
50
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
01.05.2022
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature
First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Rodrigo Arias
Sánchez Sánchez
(Male)
Political party
National Liberation Party (PLN)
Date of election
01.05.2022