Costa Rica: ‘Anti-systemic’ conservative politician Rodrigo Chavez elected president

LAST UPDATE: 08.30

Conservative Rodrigo Chavez, a former World Bank official, was elected president on Sunday for a four-year term in Costa Rica, one of the most stable countries in Latin America but has been gripped by a deep economic and social crisis in recent years.

His center-right opponent, Jose Maria Figueres, conceded victory to Mr Chavez, who received 52.9% of the vote, compared to 47.1% for his opponent, with 89% of the ballots incorporated, according to the Supreme Electoral Court (Tribunal Supremo Electoral, TSE), the national election commission.

Some 3.5 million voters went to the polls yesterday in the small Central American country, which for years was the most stable in the region. The process unfolded smoothly, without any serious incident.

“Costa Rica voted and the people spoke. As Democrats, we will always respect the popular verdict (…). I congratulate Rodrigo Chavez and wish him all the best,” said Figueres, the former president of the country (1994). -1998), addressed to his supporters.

“I accept with the deepest humility this sacred decision of the Costa Rican people (…). The result is for me neither a medal nor a trophy, but a huge responsibility,” said Mr. Chavez.

The 60-year-old politician promises to provide solutions to the problems facing Costa Rica: foreign debt, which exceeds 70% of GDP, the rate of poverty, which now plagues 23% of the population, unemployment, which is at 14%, corruption scandals in the public sector.

Outsider

The economist, who slammed the door of the outgoing government’s finance ministry just 180 days ago, erased a lightning-fast upward trajectory during the election period.

He was described as an outsider in the first round on February 6, in which he was the candidate of the newly formed Social Democratic Progress Party (PPSD), but he quickly gained ground in the polls within the two months leading up to the second round.

He thus overcame the disadvantage of the case of sexual harassment of two of his co-workers between 2008 and 2013, when he was still working at the PT, which he denied.

Nor did Jose Maria Figueres, his former president and opponent, have an unblemished past. Before the trial could take place, an investigation was launched against the former head of state as he was suspected of receiving $ 900,000 in 2004 from the French company Alcatel in exchange for the award of a public contract. Exiled to Europe, Mr. Figueres refused to comply with the summons and did not return to his homeland until 2011, after the crime was statute-barred.

“April 3 will be a real revolution in this country’s history. We will finally clean our house,” Chavez said in his last campaign appearance, who likes to cultivate the image of a fighter.

The new president has not secured a majority of seats in parliament, so he will have to look for allies.

Turnout was 57.3%, the TSE reported, lower than in the first round (60%).

“There are no jobs”

Outgoing President Carlos Alvarado was not eligible to run for a second consecutive term under the Constitution.

“Our main concerns are that there are no jobs, the course of the economy, security,” said Angela Marin, 58, who voted in San Jose. “The next president has to change everything! There are no jobs, there is nothing,” said Ana Brisenio, a 64-year-old travel agent.

Tourism, one of the main drivers of the country’s economy, has been hit hard by the new coronavirus pandemic; Costa Rica has seen the largest increase in unemployment in the region, along with Peru. Nevertheless, he ranks first in the “happiness” index in Latin America, according to the most recent global exhibition for him.

SOURCE: AMPE