QCOSTARICA — By majority vote, Costa Rica’s legislators approved in the second and final debate the reform that allows the extradition of Costa Ricans who incur in crimes of international drug trafficking and terrorism.
This in cases where the participation of Costa Ricans in international borders is proven.
Bill 23,701, “Reforma al artículo 32 de la Constitución Política de la República de Costa Rica para permitir la extradición de nacionales” (Reform to article 32 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica to allow the extradition of nationals), passed with 44 (of 57) votesafter the Constitutional Court did not find any constitutional flaws in the text.
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Frente Amplio (FA) legislator, Jonatan Acuña, emphasized that the reform cannot be used as a measure to extradite a person. “Each case must be evaluated by judicial authorities,” emphasized the legislator.
Acuña also clarified that it will not be used as a mechanism for political persecution.
“There are regimes in which the Judiciary is even used to persecute political adversaries. And for that reason, these types of guarantees are fundamental,” he argued.
For her part, the legislator of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), Paulina Ramírez, highlighted, “It is not worth hiding behind nationality to evade justice.”
“Allowing the extradition of Costa Ricans does not harm the principle of progressiveness of Human Rights,” she added.
The reform will not become final immediately after the vote, it will go to the Drafting Committee for the modification of the constitutional article.
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Prior to its application, the following steps must be completed:
- The President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, must mention the reform in his work report on May 2, 2025.
- After the report, there must be 3 second-term debates in the Plenary.
- With the 3 affirmative debates, the modification to Article 32 of the Political Constitution would be final.
The text would be worded as follows: “No Costa Rican may be compelled to leave the national territory, except in cases of international drug trafficking or terrorism, extradition has been granted by the Courts of Justice, in strict adherence to the fundamental rights and procedural guarantees recognized in this Constitution.”
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