Nine Former Lawmakers Enter Witness Protection After Threats Linked to Opposition to Rodrigo Chaves

Nine former Costa Rican lawmakers have entered a victim and witness protection program after threats received during their time in office. Several say the episodes were connected to their opposition to the government of Rodrigo Chaves.

The former legislators described death threats, persecution and changes to their daily routines. Their accounts have brought the effects of political hostility into the experience of people who previously served in the Legislative Assembly.

Experts cited in the report warned that political polarization can affect public debate and democracy. The threats therefore form part of a broader concern about how political conflict is being expressed in Costa Rica.