People, Positions and Obituaries · 12 May 2026

Laura Fernández sworn in as President of Costa Rica

Exam-focused facts from the 12 May 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • Laura Fernández was sworn in as the president of Costa Rica.
  • Fernández is the second woman to lead the Central American country.
  • Outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves was appointed as the minister of the presidency and minister of finance.
  • Second Vice President Douglas Soto was appointed as the ambassador to Washington.
  • Kristi Noem, the United States (US) special envoy to a coalition of countries to combat regional crime, represented the US administration at the inauguration.

View this story in the full daily briefing

Earlier coverage selected by topic similarity to help connect developments over time.

José Antonio Kast sworn in as President of Chile.

José Antonio Kast assumed office as President of Chile on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. He defeated communist candidate Jeannette Jara in the December 2025 election and secured about 60% of the vote.

Jose Maria Balcazar Appointed Interim President of Peru

Peru’s Congress elected Jose Maria Balcazar as the interim president of the country, succeeding Jose Jeri following his removal from office. Balcazar is an 83-year-old former judge and professor who represents the…