Laura elected Costa Rica’s first female president
SAN JOSE: Laura Chinchilla, a protege of Nobel peace laureate President Oscar Arias, won a landslide election victory in Costa Rica on Sunday to become the country’s first woman elected president.
Chinchilla, formerly Arias’ vice president, has vowed to continue his pro-business policies in the Central American nation, expanding free trade pacts and courting investment.
She won 47 percent of the vote, around double the scores of her two closest rivals, who quickly conceded defeat. She will join a small camp of women leaders in typically male-dominated Latin America that currently includes Chile’s Michelle Bachelet and Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez.
The 50-year-old quickly called for unity among the country’s political parties.
“The first is to talk, seriously and permanently with all of this country’s political parties and the social sectors. My administration will have open doors for all Costa Ricans. This requires that we listen attentively to the voices of those who weren’t with us in this election and we humbly ask for their help and collaboration,” she said during her acceptance speech.
Costa Rica, which has no army and avoided the Cold War-era civil wars that ravaged its neighbors, is known for its low crime but is increasingly a transit route for drug gangs.
Chinchilla promised to deal with the problem intelligently and firmly.
“I have been handed clear mandate to fight criminals and drug traffickers with all firmness and intelligence.”
As supporters waved flags and cheered, she declared victory.
“Costa Rica is my beloved fatherland. I defend her, I love her, I adore her and I give my life to her,” she said to deafening cheers. “Thank you very much!”
Famed for its political stability in a turbulent region, Costa Rica is an economic success story in Central America, with an economy based around tourism, manufactured products like microchips, and exports of coffee, pineapples and bananas.
Popular with eco-tourists, surfers and U.S. and Canadian retirees for its lush jungles, volcanoes and relaxed lifestyle, Costa Rica is proud of its six decades of democratic elections and status as one of Latin America’s most stable countries.
