Costa Rica’s abstention rate remained at historic levels at 42.23%.
SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA — Economist and Progressive Social Democratic Party (PPSD) candidate Rodrigo Chaves, 60, became Costa Rica’s president-elect this Sunday, receiving a total of 52% of the vote, up from 47.15%. received from his rival José María Figueres of the National Liberation Party.
According to the Costa Rica Electoral Tribunal’s latest cut on the night, which counted a total of 98.15% of the boards, Chaves has surpassed Figueres, 67, with more than 100,000 votes.
Abstention remained at an all-time high of 42.23%, according to the electoral body, noting a turnout of 56.77%.
Figueres and Chaves ran in a second round this Sunday after neither managed to get 40% of the vote on the first day of February, which saw a total of 25 candidates.
“I congratulate Rodrigo Chaves and wish him all the best,” said Figueres, hailing the victory of his opponent, who was heavily accused of receiving a sexual harassment sanction while working at the World Bank.
For his part, Chaves gave a conciliatory speech at a hotel in San Jose, saying that “it was with the deepest humility that he received the sacred decision of the Costa Rican people.”
“For me, this result is not a reason to celebrate, it is not a medal or a trophy, but an enormous responsibility full of challenges and difficulties that we will all face,” he stressed in front of his supporters.
Hours earlier, Chaves questioned the press for criticizing him during a visit to the College of Journalists of Costa Rica, claiming he had been the victim of alleged attacks by some media outlets. Similarly, Progressive Social Democratic Party (PPSD) MP Pilar Cisneros called the journalists’ notes “a dirty and dirty campaign”.
Journalist Pilar Cisneros and Rodrigo Chaves, photo Houston Castillo, VOA.
Former President Alvarado congratulates Chaves
After knowing the results, outgoing President Carlos Alvarado Chaves expressed his congratulations and expressed his readiness for “an orderly transition.”
“I called President-elect Rodrigo Chaves to offer my congratulations for an orderly transition and my best wishes for the responsibilities he will face as President number 49 of Costa Rica. Congratulations Costa Rica on a new democratic day,” Alvarado wrote on Twitter.
The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, also added the congratulations on Chaves’ victory, writing on the same social network that the electoral process in Costa Rica is exemplary for the region.
“We renew our commitment to work with Costa Rica for more rights for more people,” Almagro tweeted.
Former President José María Figueres of the National Liberation Party this Sunday.
Chaves promises to reconcile Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s elections passed without any argument, according to electoral court spokesman Gustavo Román, but the abstention showed citizens’ dissatisfaction with the remaining candidates, who far from unifying voters but polarized the populace, analysts said to the VOA.
“Although one is not very convinced about who to vote for, it is important to exercise the right to at least influence something,” he told the VOA Andrés González, a young man of almost 20 who exercised his right to vote for the first time.
As in the case of former president and candidate José Figueres, the second-round elections were marked by allegations of corruption; and sexual harassment against Chaves.
“It’s been a complicated, tough campaign because sometimes the horizon gets lost, so you should focus on what you’re going to do in the future and not live criminally in the past,” said young Cindy Trejos.
Costa Rica is in an economic crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Bank said Costa Rica’s gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 4.1% in 2020, the largest contraction in four decades.
The same agency estimates that more than 124,000 people fell into poverty in 2020, bringing the poverty rate to 13% in 2020.
Chaves, an economist by trade, has said he will work to bring the country out of the crisis and create jobs, but he has also called for Costa Rican unification.
“Costa Rican society wasn’t poor, it impoverished it, Costa Rican society wasn’t unequal, it made it unequal. We’ve talked about progress and dismissed setbacks,” Chaves said.