Former President of Costa Rica (2010–2014), esteemed Member of Club de Madrid Laura Chinchilla Miranda has been elected President of Club de Madrid, the world’s largest Forum of democratic former Heads of State and Government committed to fostering democratic values and effective democratic practice across the globe.
President-elect Chinchilla expressed her “profound sense of responsibility and great pride in the distinguished trajectory of our institution”, emphasizing her commitment to uphold Club de Madrid’s mission and to lead with “firm conviction and adherence to the democratic values of freedom, social justice, and peaceful coexistence.”
A political scientist with a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University, Chinchilla was the first woman to be elected President of Costa Rica. Throughout her career, she has championed justice and police reform, open and digital government, women’s rights, and environmental sustainability, earning international recognition for her leadership in marine biodiversity conservation.
President Chinchilla has also worked with international organisations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNDP, and USAID; chaired the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age; and served as a member of Club de Madrid’s Board of Directors, from 2024 to 2025, and the institution’s Vice President from 2018 to 2023.
Outgoing President Danilo Türk, former President of Slovenia (2007–2012), congratulated his successor and expressed confidence in her ability to strengthen the organisation’s mission to advance democracy, inclusion, and effective governance worldwide.
Members of Club de Madrid extended their warmest congratulations to President-elect Laura Chinchilla Miranda, whose term will begin in January 2026, opening a new chapter in the organisation’s leadership and global impact.
