First woman president of Costa Rica commits to environment

San Jose - Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica's first female president, was inaugurated Saturday, promising transparency in governance and commitment to the environment.

She was sworn in by the leader of the legislative assembly, Luis Gerardo Villanueva, in the open air, before a crowd of 25,000.

The center-right politician Chinchilla, 51, of the ruling National Liberation Party, won the February 7 presidential election with over 46 per cent of the votes. Her closest rival, center-left Otton Solis, took 24 per cent.

The top finisher needed at least 40 per cent to avoid a runoff.

Experts have observed that in a runoff, Chinchilla would have likely struggled against a united opposition.

Drug-trafficking - a growing concern for the small Central American country of 4.5 million that does not have an army - and its associated violence are set to be the main worries for the incoming government.

A political scientist by training, Chinchilla started her political career in the 1990s. She held positions as vice minister and then minister of public security. Since 2002, she has been a member of the Legislative Assembly and was made vice president by outgoing President Oscar Arias in 2006.

She is married to Spanish businessman Jose Maria Rico, with whom she has one son.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/322672,first-woman-president-of-costa-rica-commits-to-environment.html.