the rightist Rodrigo Chavez will be next May 8 at new president of Costa Rica, after winning this Sunday on the ballot with more than five points ahead of José María Figueres.

The road will not be easy for the winner, as he will have to handle a severe economic crisis in the Central American country.

Chaves, a 60-year-old economist, asked after being punished for sexual harassment when he worked at the World Bank, compiled 52.88% of the vote against 47.12% of centrist Figueres with 95.24% of the votes counted, according to data from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

“The challenges and difficulties that await us are many and overwhelming in the world, on the continent and in our own country. If you look them in the eye, I can tell you that we have come to serve and not to serve ourselves. We are here to serve, we are constantly moving forward in Costa Rica, the best is yet to come. We are moving forward, “said the successful Chaves.

And he added: “We will work with honesty, efficiency and thrift but also with solidarity for the most vulnerable people in our country with the sacred promise of a democratic government, of dialogue, respect for law and Costa values. Rican. “

Figueres, former Costa Rican president, admitted his defeat in front of a crowd of supporters in San José: “Costa Rica voted and the people spoke. As we are democracies, we will always respect the decision. that (…) I congratulate Rodrigo Chaves and wish him the best“.

The outgoing president, Carlos Alvarado, also congratulated Chaves, who won his new Social Democratic Progress Party. If there is no majority in Congress, he will have to negotiate to achieve his government plan.

In this country without the Armed Forces since 1948, the transportation and distribution of electoral material is governed by citizen volunteers who are recognized before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

On a day marked by apathy and disbelief, more than 42% of the 3.5 million residents called to vote did not go to the polls.

The elections took place “in peace and quiet,” TSE spokesman Gustavo Román told the press, although earlier in the day a citizen over 70 years old lost his balance after voting in the capital and died in his place of polling, which seems from the heart. attack.

Chaves voted in the middle of the morning at a school in Goicoechea, in the heart of the city, to the acclaim of his followers and criticism of the occasional detractor.

“I promise you a fair, honest and transparent governmentthis will be the best management of all, ”Chaves said.

At age 60, he is an economist who has worked for more than 30 years at the World Bank. He was also the Minister of Finance of the current government of Carlos Alvarado, for 180 days, between 2019 and 2020.

Chaves received punishment for sexual harassment from two subordinates of the international financial organization.

The future president of Costa Rica ensures that the accusations against him, for events that took place between 2008 and 2013, are “jokes” that are “not understood due to cultural differences”.

In the debate for these elections, he recognized that when he held a high position at the World Bank mentioned about “an orgy with six species” with two subordinates.

For that episode, which Chaves tried to reduce by emphasizing that it was “joke or something”the economist received punishment from that body, for alleged sexual harassment against these two women.

A 67 -year -old industrial engineer, Figueres served as president between 1994 and 1998 and was the son of historic president José Figueres Ferrer, who left the army in 1948.

Nor did he come to the election with a fully transparent background, because is involved in an investigation into suspected corruption for $ 900,000 advice to French company Siemens, a firm that recognizes the payment of bribes in exchange for contracts.

Although a formal case was never opened against him, he admitted he made a mistake in not returning to the country when demanded. The investigation was conducted in 2004, when he was working in Switzerland.

Both reached the second round after the first round on Feb. 6 with 25 candidates, in which Figueres had the advantage, although not enough to automatically win.

A country in crisis

“The two remaining candidates are people who don’t have much confidence. But we have to choose between the two and hopefully have something good,” said operator Ángela Marín, 58, who first voted at the Liceo de San Antonio de Coronado, in San José.

Ana Briceño, a 64-year-old travel agent, also did not express herself in an optimistic tone: “The next president has to change everything, because this is very poor. No work here, nothing.”

Through his work, Briceño is fully aware of the impact of the pandemic on tourism, the main economic engine of this leading country in environmental protection and with abundant natural attractions.

Poverty affects 23% of the country’s population, which experienced one of the largest job falls in the region between 2019 and 2020 (-14%), along with Peru, according to ECLAC data. Its debt is equivalent to 70% of its GDP.

Despite the setbacks, Costa Rica tops Latin America’s ranking of the “happiest” countries in the world, according to the latest World Happiness Report.

“Costa Rican society is not poor, they have made it difficult. Costa Rican society is not equal, they have made it unequal. We have already talked about development and decline in recessions,” he stressed. by Chaves, from the new Social Democratic Progress Party (PPSD), this Sunday at a press conference. press.

With information from the AFP

DB