Chinchilla is Arias’s top pick for PLN Presidential Candidate.

Costa Rica’s Vice-President and Minister of Justice, Laura Chinchilla, is being groomed to take Arias’s place in 2010, when his presidential term ends. Though his endorsement is not [yet] official, Arias’s numerous flattering comments, and Chinchilla’s presence at many public activities has the political circle abuzz about the possibility of her running to become Costa Rica’s first female president.

For the record, Chinchilla states that a decision has not yet been reached – she has neither stated that she will or she won’t run for President in 2010. However, Fernando Zumbado, Minister of the Fight Against Poverty, was the first member of the Cabinent to officially announce his support of Chinchilla. Zumbado goes on to say that Chinchilla’s National Liberation Party (PLN) candidacy is already paved, and all she needs to do is choose.

Though Arias has not yet officially proclaimed support for Chinchilla, he announced on April 11 that he hopes for and will work toward the country electing a female president in 2010. On April 15, Arias told La Nación that, “Chinchilla is a woman with a great calling to public service, and she has shown leadership, responsibility, and hard work in all of her positions.”

In addition to her exemplary record and strong political reputation, a March study by Unimer showed that Chinchilla currently has the highest public opinion rating of any elected official. For the moment, this means that public opinion favors her over Johnny Araya, mayor of San José and another possible PLN presidential candidate in 2010.

Over the last few months, Chinchilla has spent more time in the public eye, mostly thanks to her ideas and platforms being taken more seriously by the Casa Presidencial. In the last few weeks, Chinchilla took on the responsibilities of Minister of Security after the Minister stepped down during the most critical days of investigation regarding FARC’s presence in Costa Rica. In addition to these political acts, Chinchilla has made an effort to further her political goals and to increase her public presence by attending more public events.

Though she has not announced her intention to run for president, Chinchilla is certainly in a good position to do so. With the support of current President Arias, a strong public approval rating, and both a favorable national and international opinion regarding female heads of state, Chinchilla could very well make Costa Rican history.

Costa Rica’s desire to inaugurate a woman president comes at a time when several important countries around the world have already done so: In Latin America alone, frontrunners Chile and Argentina have already made history. In 2006, Chile’s Michelle Bachelet was elected president with a strong 53.5% of all votes in a multi-party system. And in 2007, Christina Fernández de Kirchner, the previous first lady, was voted into office, taking over for her own husband.

Costa Rica’s northern neighbor, the United States of America, is currently in a similar position, as former First Lady Hillary Clinton competes for the bid to the Democratic Presidential nomination. Though not the first to attempt it, Clinton is the first woman to have a serious chance at the presidency. Perhaps her chances, in conjunction with other country’s successes, shows that the world has become more trusting of a woman in office. Now, time will only tell what Costa Rica’s decision will be.

Photo courtesy of La Nacion.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on April 18th, 2008