QCOSTARICA — Attorney General Carlo Díaz filed a criminal complaint against Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves for alleged bribery.
Bribery in Costa Rica is punishable with prison sentences ranging from two to eight years for public officials who, abusing their functions, force or induce someone to improperly deliver or promise an asset or financial benefit, whether for themselves or a third party.
In this case, the Fiscalía (Prosecutor’s Office) accuses President Chaves of allegedly asking for “a little affection” of US$32,000 for Federico Cruz, a former presidential advisor and personal friend of Chaves.
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Cruz is already under criminal investigation, prosecutors said, along with the head of a communications firm contracted by the Costa Rican government, which allegedly led the dealings.
The money would be part of a communications contract between the State, a private company, and the Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (CABEI) – Central American Bank for Economic Integration, for US$400,000 to pay Christian Bulgarelli and the company called RMC La Productora S.A.
Specifically, Bulgarelli is the prosecution’s crown witness. This means that in exchange for immunity, he would testify to prove the alleged corruption of the president and Jorge Rodríguez, Minister of Culture and former head of Communications.
“According to the prosecution’s thesis, Bulgarelli was forced and induced to grant an undue financial benefit, resulting from the contract with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, to co-defendant Cruz Saravanja, an electoral campaign and personal advisor and close friend of the president, who was benefited with US$32,000,” the prosecution said.
Because the case involves the president, the Supreme Court will need to determine whether the accusation has merit to lift the president’s immunity. After that, the Legislative Assembly will make the final decision on whether the case will proceed to Court because Chaves is the sitting president.
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Chaves had not commented on this issue at press time, but Pilar Cisneros, head of the ruling Partido Progreso Social faction, ruled out any corruption.
“This is another false statement by the lying prosecutor Carlos Díaz. Let’s see, what does President Chaves have to do with this? Who brought Christian Bulgarelli to Casa Presidencial? The then Minister of Communications, Patricia Navarro. Who was Christian’s friend? Patricia Navarro. Did President Chaves know Christian Bulgarelli? No, he’d never seen him in his life,” Cisneros said.
This restaurant is “full of rats”
On Monday, CRhoy.com published a video where President Chaves attacked Bulgarelli on March 21, calling Bulgarelli and companions “rats”.
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Although the incident was captured by a security camera, the conversation is inaudible. However, what happened is known to judicial authorities thanks to witnesses at the scene, who are investigating whether Chaves threatened the former presidential contractor.
“This restaurant is filled with rats, that’s what Chaves said. He said it twice, and the second time Bulgarelli gets up,” said a source speaking to Crhoy.
The restaurant’s security footage clearly shows the president entering the restaurant and, upon seeing Bulgarelli, approaching in an intimidating manner, accompanied by two bodyguards, one of whom was Jeffrey Cerdas, the head of the Presidential Protection Unit (UPP) and the head of the Special Intervention Unit (UEI).
Chaves was pulled by the arm by legislator Pilar Cisneros while Cerdas pushed him away and remained talking to Bulgarelli.
According to the OIJ report, the President’s bodyguard apologized to Bulgarelli for the incident.
A sensitive issue?
The prosecution’s action comes 300 days (ten months) before the February 2026 presidential elections, which currently have a very strong Chavista movement against the opposition.
At least four polls give the president popular support above 50%, so the ruling party and its candidate, who has not yet been announced, are likely to be the favorites.
Borges, Enfoques Investigaciones, Opol Consultores, and even the Center for Political Research and Studies (CIEP) at the University of Costa Rica are the pollsters reporting broad support for the president.
While the president cannot run for office (he has to sit out one term before running again), he has expressed interest in running for legislator, which aims to boost a ruling party legislative bloc of at least 38 legislators for the 2026-2030 term.
“The president has support at nearly 65%, and when voters who are certain they would vote for a candidate of the president, who currently has no name or face, are asked if they would vote for that person. So, I think there is potentially a possibility that the president’s political capital could be transferable or inheritable,” Mario Quirós, a researcher at Enfoques, previously told La República.
Furthermore, the prosecutor’s action coincides with the PLN’s internal election this Sunday.
It also comes weeks after Chaves’ supporters organized a march to demand the resignation of prosecutor Carlo Díaz for alleged inefficiency in criminal matters.
What are they accusing the president of?
President Rodrigo Chaves is being criminally charged with the alleged crime of extortion.
- This crime carries a prison sentence of 2 to 8 years.
- It is committed by any public official who, abusing their functions, forces or induces someone to improperly give or promise, for themselves or a third party, a good or financial benefit.
- The prosecution’s theory is that Chaves requested US$32,000 for a personal advisor and friend as part of a US$400,000 government contract with CABEI for communications.
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