Who Is President Elect Laura Chinchilla?
February 9th, 2010 | by admin |
Laura Chinchilla has been converted in the country’s first female president, obtaining almost 50% of the popular vote in Sunday’s presidential elections. But, who is she?
Following is profile of the president elect.
Chinchilla, born on March 28, 1959 in San José, majored in political science at the University of Costa Rica in 1977. She got a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1986 and returned to Costa Rica in 1989. She later started her professional career as a consultant.
She became vice-ministra de Seguridad Pública in 1994, and the first female minister from 1996 to 1998. Chinchilla was elected member of the Legislative Assembly in 2002 and in 2006 she became vice president for incumbent President Oscar Arias, resigning in 2008 to run for the presidency.
With 43.8 percent of supports from her National Liberation Party, she became a presidential candidate for her party in June 2009, beating out San José mayor, Johnny Araya and former ministro de Seguridad, Fernando Berrocal.
Chinchilla campaigned on a platform promising more jobs, better living standards for children and senior citizens, crackdown on drug trafficking and other crimes.
She was married with José María Rico and have one son together.
By ann cabezas on Feb 9, 2010
Great to see a Woman elected as President of Costa Rica! Maybe Costa Rica will see improvements in education and above all in security.
from http://www.costaricalearn.com
Ann Cabezas