Antonio Ortega claims Laura Fernández's campaign is led by narcotraffickers, demanding an answer.
1. Nuestra Voz, a Radio Monumental Costa Rica program hosted by Amelia, covers the final weeks of the Costa Rican presidential campaign ahead of the February 1, 2026 election.
2. The host is Amelia (no surname given in transcript); five campaign chiefs participate: Francisco Gamboa (Pueblo Soberano, also vice-presidential candidate), Ana Gabriel Zúñiga (Agenda Ciudadana), César Rodríguez (Liberación Nacional), Evita Arguedas (Avanza, also vice-presidential candidate), and Antonio Ortega (Frente Amplio).
3. The episode's central question is how each party will convert the 68.8% of undecided/movable voters in the final weeks.
4. The CIEP (Universidad de Costa Rica) poll, referenced throughout, shows Laura Fernández at 40% — a 10-point jump from the prior month — with no other candidate in double digits.
5. Francisco Gamboa (Pueblo Soberano) acknowledges the lead but emphasizes 'we have not won anything yet' and that the election is decided only by votes on February 1.
6. Gamboa argues that the current Chávez government prioritized 'forgotten' coastal and border regions over the Central Valley, and that this explains Pueblo Soberano's strong rural support.
7. He also cites that 8 of 10 voters who moved from undecided to decided between December and January CIEP polls chose Laura Fernández.
8. Ana Gabriel Zúñiga (Agenda Ciudadana, whose coalition includes PAC, ADN, Republicano Social Cristiano, and cantonal parties) directly challenges the 'forgotten regions' narrative, citing: worse security in Limón, an incomplete water project in Guanacaste, and systematic agricultural neglect in Punta Arenas.
9. Zúñiga argues that the governing party's proposal to win 40 legislative seats is dangerous given the party's failure to deliver with the executive branch resources it already had.
10. She specifically targets women as a key undecided bloc, citing unpaid care work, housing subsidy cuts, scholarship access, and the growing number of women using Uber who need labor formalization.
11. César Rodríguez (PLN/Liberación Nacional), whose candidate is Álvaro Ramos, cites the Pope León XIV's framing of politics as 'the highest form of charity' and argues that security is the defining issue — noting that Costa Rican children can no longer go to school safely due to shootings.
12. Rodríguez argues that Álvaro Ramos's brief tenure at the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) — where he implemented a legally mandated employee raise that cost him his position — proves his integrity and reliability.
13. Evita Arguedas (Avanza, candidate José Aguilar Berrocal) claims Avanza has grown by over 400% in this campaign cycle, emerging from the margin of error into the top tier of the CIEP poll.
14. She makes a direct appeal to the 1.88 million women registered to vote, describing the right to vote as 'sacred' and arguing that the current government has not served women or young people.
15. Arguedas cites young people at a recent meeting who said they plan to study abroad because Costa Rica offers no opportunities for personal or professional growth.
16. Antonio Ortega (Frente Amplio, candidate Ariel Robles) describes Frente Amplio as well positioned to attract youth and women voters.
17. Ortega launches the 'Vote Sin Miedo' campaign, explicitly accusing the ruling party ('chavismo') of trying to keep voter turnout low — as they did in municipal elections by letting races go cold so they could win with 20-30% of votes.
18. He notes that candidate Ariel Robles has a natural ease in connecting with people and announces a San José campaign finale behind the National Museum with multiple concerts, all free.
19. The debate also covers the ROP (pension fund) reform from a technical perspective, road deaths reaching a record high, and the Trump 'Peace Council' at Davos.
20. The episode is a dense, multi-voice political debate format primarily relevant to Costa Rican voters and observers of Central American democracy.
