In a bold move reflecting the deepening political crisis in Costa Rica, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has formally requested the National Assembly to strip President Rodrigo Chaves of his immunity. This request follows allegations of the president's involvement in political interference ahead of the 2026 elections and comes shortly after a failed attempt by the Supreme Court to remove his immunity over separate corruption charges.

The TSE, which is the highest authority in the country responsible for ensuring fair electoral processes, declared the complaints against President Chaves admissible. Citing Article 270 of the Electoral Act, the Tribunal emphasized that any charges involving the president must first be approved by the Legislative Assembly before proceeding. This development allows the investigation into the alleged electoral interference to advance.

Accusations against President Chaves include repeated violations of TSE rules prohibiting public officials from engaging in election-related activities. These allegations were further compounded by charges from the prosecutor’s office in April 2025, which accused him and the Minister of Culture of coercing $32,000 from a contract with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration for personal benefit. The implicated funds were allegedly directed to Federico Cruz, a close advisor and friend of the president, who is now facing separate criminal charges.

In July, the Supreme Court supported the initiation of a trial against President Chaves on these corruption charges, urging the Legislative Assembly to lift his immunity. The president countered these allegations in August, appearing before an Assembly committee to denounce the accusations as a politically motivated judicial coup d'état, while also criticizing the TSE’s campaign regulations for restricting public information.

Despite these controversies, the National Assembly previously failed to achieve the supermajority needed to remove the president’s immunity, falling short with only 34 votes when 38 were required. This marked a historic moment as it was the first time the Assembly had voted on the matter of a president’s immunity in Costa Rican history.

With the TSE now pushing for another attempt to strip the president of his immunity, the political landscape is rife with uncertainty. Observers and lawmakers alike are left to speculate on whether the Assembly’s stance will shift given the fresh allegations and the mounting pressure from judicial authorities to hold the president accountable.