Rodrigo Arias, the president of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly, issued a statement on Thursday addressing claims made by President Rodrigo Chaves a day earlier.

Chaves had characterized ongoing investigations against him by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and the Attorney General's Office as a 'legal coup d'état.' Arias criticized these remarks, asserting that they mislead the Costa Rican public and undermine the credibility of institutions mandated to uphold the law.

Arias emphasized that it is essential for the public to recognize that the investigation processes initiated against the president arise from formal complaints and are a standard procedure within a democratic framework.

He remarked, 'We cannot allow the investigations against the President of the Republic to cast doubt on the work of democratic institutions.

There is no coup d'état here, only bodies that have the authority to investigate allegations and are obliged to proceed with due diligence.' He reiterated that no individual, including President Chaves, is above the law.

The focus of Chaves' allegations is primarily related to a probe initiated by the TSE's Specialized Section over accusations of political belligerence stemming from complaints made by a citizen named Solera, as well as officials from the National Liberation Party (PLN), the Citizens' Action Party (PAC), and the Broad Front (FA).

In response to the president's remarks, Arias expressed his support for public institutions and indicated that Chaves' attacks could be a strategic move to shield himself from potential legal ramifications should the investigations yield significant findings.

He declared, 'This is a serious matter, and we must alert Costa Rica that there is no risk of a coup d'état.'