Costa Rica judge warns judiciary collapsing amid budget cuts, demands female court president

Costa Rican judge Varela publicly warns that the Judicial Power is 'already collapsing' following announced budget cuts, and asserts that a 2017 agreement mandates gender alternation in the Supreme Court presidency, implying a woman should be elected. The statement signals internal institutional stress and political friction over judicial funding and leadership, though the exact scope of the cuts and their impact remain unspecified.