Costa Rica: Ex-Finance Minister Chaves wins presidential vote | Information | DW

Proper-wing applicant and previous Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves received Costa Rica’s runoff presidential election on Sunday, a preliminary vote tally confirmed.

The anti-institution economist garnered all over fifty two.nine% of the vote, in accordance to preliminary partial final results printed by the country’s electoral tribunal.

His centrist opponent, former President Jose Maria Figueres, was witnessed securing forty seven.one% of the vote.

Soon following the first final results have been introduced, Figueres conceded defeat.

Costa Rica’s presidential vote comes amid a rising financial disaster, and citizens are discouraged by latest general public corruption scandals, one more surge of COVID-19 bacterial infections and bad financial disorders. 

Two scandal-tainted presidential contenders

Equally candidates managed to defeat off rival contenders to attain the last phase of the presidential polls in spite of prior scandals clouding their strategies. 

Chaves is from the appropriate-wing Social Democratic Development Get together and at one particular place experienced been minister of finance. He has been investigated for sexual harassment for the duration of his time as a senior formal at the Planet Lender and was demoted from his placement. Chaves has also concentrated on the financial state and career development.

Costa Rica’s presidential applicant Rodrigo Chaves has served as finance minister and is a little in advance of his opponent in feeling polls

“The urgent themes to tackle are the kinds leading to distress and struggling to the folks,” Chaves reported, including that amid the critical difficulties have been “very first the absence of work. Next the price tag of dwelling.”

Figueres, who signifies the Countrywide Liberation Get together, was president of the region from 1994 to 1998 and has been investigated for allegedly accepting $900,000 (€814,000) from French business Alcatel. Figueres has concentrated on the financial state in his marketing campaign.

Presidential applicant Jose Maria Figueres served as president in between 1994 and 1998

“In the financial agenda, unemployment is the most essential, the development of work possibilities is the precedence,” Figueres reported.

Costa Rica witnessing worst economic downturn in many years

Costa Rica is going through its worst economic downturn in 4 many years introduced on by the international pandemic.

Unemployment sat at all over fourteen.four% in 2021 and there is a higher stage of inequality. About 23% of the Costa Rican populace life in poverty.  

rs, kb/wd (AFP, Reuters, EFE)