Costa Rica Press Freedom Under Threat as Chaves Targets Journalists
A report reveals increasing hostility towards journalists in Costa Rica, highlighting President Chaves' confrontational stance as a primary factor.
Journalism in Costa Rica and across Central America is facing escalating threats, according to a recent report released by the Freedom of Expression and Right to Information Program at the University of Costa Rica and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
The third annual Report on the State of Freedom of Expression and the Security of Journalistic Practice in Central America points to President Rodrigo Chaves Robles as a key figure in the declining landscape of press freedom in the country.
The report asserts that Chaves' 'stigmatizing and confrontational discourse' towards critical media outlets and public institutions has created an environment of intimidation.
This situation has limited the ability of journalists to operate without fear and has undermined public confidence in the press—a critical element of democracy.
According to the report, Chaves’ conflicts with journalists and independent media institutions have intensified, affecting not only the press but also autonomous bodies such as the Supreme Court of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office.
Since assuming office in May 2022, Chaves has repeatedly accused these institutions of hindering his administrative reforms, a narrative that has heightened tensions nationwide.
The study encompasses conditions in Costa Rica and other Central American nations, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, noting that the region poses a growing danger for journalists.
Co-author Óscar Jiménez Alvarado highlighted that the assaults on the press are symptomatic of 'systematic strategies promoted by those in power,' identifying a trend characterized by stigmatizing language, digital hostility, and direct threats from political leaders.
The report emphasizes that the Costa Rican government is currently the principal threat to press freedom, a designation it shares with El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele.
This situation marks a significant departure from Costa Rica’s historical status as a bastion of democratic stability and press freedom in the region.
The country's ranking in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index has fallen from 8th place in 2022 to 26th in 2024, indicating growing challenges faced under Chaves’ governance.
Concerns are also mounting regarding the forthcoming 2026 presidential election.
The report suggests that the electoral process to select Chaves’ successor could lead to increased tensions, with predictions of intensified political polarization and further attacks on media as the campaign progresses.
The broader regional context is equally concerning, with the report documenting a decline in freedom of expression and safety for journalists.
Noteworthy incidents include the exile of over 120 journalists from Nicaragua since 2018 and the arrest of El Periódico founder José Rubén Zamora in Guatemala, which underscores the misuse of legal avenues to silence dissenting voices.
Honduras has seen a rise in journalist killings, while journalists in El Salvador are reportedly targeted with spyware by government entities.
In Costa Rica, specific incidents corroborate the report's findings, including a ruling from the Constitutional Chamber in 2023 that determined Chaves had infringed upon press freedom due to ongoing verbal attacks on media organizations like La Nación and Teletica.
Reports of intensified online harassment, including threats of violence from pro-government entities, have also been noted.
Additionally, a 2022 directive from the government to withhold state advertising from critical outlets has been substantiated by leaked audio, revealing systemic bias against dissenting voices.
Giselle Boza Solano, the coordinator of PROLEDI UCR, emphasized the significance of the report in tracking these trends.
She stated, 'The state and political authorities, rather than safeguarding this right, are its primary violators.' The report further highlights a concerning rise in gender-based violence targeting female journalists, an issue that has deteriorated since the last assessment.
Despite these adverse conditions, Costa Rica maintains a strong legal framework supporting press freedom, recently reinforced by a new public information law enacted in November 2024. However, experts caution that if the current executive's hostility remains unaddressed, further regressions in press freedom may ensue.
'These attacks not only seek to discredit the press but also aim to create a cascading effect of fear and self-censorship,' Jiménez remarked.
The Inter-American Press Association, following an assessment visit to Costa Rica, has echoed these concerns, citing President Chaves’ 'constant verbal attacks' and the manipulation of state advertising as instruments of intimidation, urging the government to uphold democratic values as the election approaches.
The third annual Report on the State of Freedom of Expression and the Security of Journalistic Practice in Central America points to President Rodrigo Chaves Robles as a key figure in the declining landscape of press freedom in the country.
The report asserts that Chaves' 'stigmatizing and confrontational discourse' towards critical media outlets and public institutions has created an environment of intimidation.
This situation has limited the ability of journalists to operate without fear and has undermined public confidence in the press—a critical element of democracy.
According to the report, Chaves’ conflicts with journalists and independent media institutions have intensified, affecting not only the press but also autonomous bodies such as the Supreme Court of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office.
Since assuming office in May 2022, Chaves has repeatedly accused these institutions of hindering his administrative reforms, a narrative that has heightened tensions nationwide.
The study encompasses conditions in Costa Rica and other Central American nations, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, noting that the region poses a growing danger for journalists.
Co-author Óscar Jiménez Alvarado highlighted that the assaults on the press are symptomatic of 'systematic strategies promoted by those in power,' identifying a trend characterized by stigmatizing language, digital hostility, and direct threats from political leaders.
The report emphasizes that the Costa Rican government is currently the principal threat to press freedom, a designation it shares with El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele.
This situation marks a significant departure from Costa Rica’s historical status as a bastion of democratic stability and press freedom in the region.
The country's ranking in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index has fallen from 8th place in 2022 to 26th in 2024, indicating growing challenges faced under Chaves’ governance.
Concerns are also mounting regarding the forthcoming 2026 presidential election.
The report suggests that the electoral process to select Chaves’ successor could lead to increased tensions, with predictions of intensified political polarization and further attacks on media as the campaign progresses.
The broader regional context is equally concerning, with the report documenting a decline in freedom of expression and safety for journalists.
Noteworthy incidents include the exile of over 120 journalists from Nicaragua since 2018 and the arrest of El Periódico founder José Rubén Zamora in Guatemala, which underscores the misuse of legal avenues to silence dissenting voices.
Honduras has seen a rise in journalist killings, while journalists in El Salvador are reportedly targeted with spyware by government entities.
In Costa Rica, specific incidents corroborate the report's findings, including a ruling from the Constitutional Chamber in 2023 that determined Chaves had infringed upon press freedom due to ongoing verbal attacks on media organizations like La Nación and Teletica.
Reports of intensified online harassment, including threats of violence from pro-government entities, have also been noted.
Additionally, a 2022 directive from the government to withhold state advertising from critical outlets has been substantiated by leaked audio, revealing systemic bias against dissenting voices.
Giselle Boza Solano, the coordinator of PROLEDI UCR, emphasized the significance of the report in tracking these trends.
She stated, 'The state and political authorities, rather than safeguarding this right, are its primary violators.' The report further highlights a concerning rise in gender-based violence targeting female journalists, an issue that has deteriorated since the last assessment.
Despite these adverse conditions, Costa Rica maintains a strong legal framework supporting press freedom, recently reinforced by a new public information law enacted in November 2024. However, experts caution that if the current executive's hostility remains unaddressed, further regressions in press freedom may ensue.
'These attacks not only seek to discredit the press but also aim to create a cascading effect of fear and self-censorship,' Jiménez remarked.
The Inter-American Press Association, following an assessment visit to Costa Rica, has echoed these concerns, citing President Chaves’ 'constant verbal attacks' and the manipulation of state advertising as instruments of intimidation, urging the government to uphold democratic values as the election approaches.
