Laura Chinchilla Will Dedicate Herself Full-Time to Her Presidential Campaign.

Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica’s vice president, will resign from office today. There’s no scandal involved – in order to pursue her goals for presidential office in 2010, Chinchilla will spend her time campaigning to rally support and therefore must resign from her current demanding position as Vice President.

The 52-year old vice president will make her official resignation today before the Consejo del Gobierno and, specifically, President Óscar Arias. “I understand that she wants to present the resignation to me [directly], but the resignation, I think, will only go into effect on the day that the Supreme Election Tribunal (TSE) accepts the resignation because she was elected by Costa Ricans,” Arias explained.

President Arias, however, will accept Chinchilla’s resignation as a sign of support for his running mate, whom he has openly supported for 2010’s PLN presidential candidate. “Laura’s departure is important to her, deciding to enter into this country’s political life like she has done during so many years, but this time with aspirations to an [even] higher [position],” Arias continued.

Regarding the duties that Chinchilla will leave behind, Arias noted that “for the government and for the country, it is sad because a distinguished colleague is leaving us. [She] has left a very important footprint on the Ministry of Justice and on the Vice Presidency, we care for her, we admire her, and we highly respect all members of the Cabinet.” With respect to Costa Rica’s political matters, all vice presidential duties may be taken over by the President of Congress, Francisco Antonio Pacheco, who Arias described as “a great man who has this country [at heart].”

Laura Chinchilla has already gained the support of many, including President Arias and Minister of the Fight Against Poverty, Fernando Zumbado, who was the first member of Cabinet to officially announce his support. Her record on public service and social responsibility are strong, and Chinchilla enjoys a positive public reputation and approval rating. These qualities, in addition to her experience in high office, seem to make her an ideal choice for PLN’s 2010 presidential candidate.

If Chinchilla is elected, she will be the third Latin American woman to serve as president, after Chile’s Michelle Bachelet (2006) and Argentina’s Christina Fernandez de Kirchner (2007). Despite these recent leaps forward, speculation similar to the United States’ recent primary elections, when Americans wondered whether the country would be ready for a woman or African-American president, many Costa Ricans wonder whether this country, so rooted in machísmo cultural mores, would willingly elect a female to its highest office.

Ostensibly, Chinchilla’s history and experience would (or would not) stand for itself, but this would not be the first case of gender getting in the way of professional advancement. In fact, many potential Chinchilla supporters wonder if her candidacy will be a shot in the foot for PLN, who may sacrifice its chances for reelection by nominating a woman to head the Costa Rica government. On this question, only time will tell – perhaps the next two years will give Chinchilla time to prove herself, and allow Costa Ricans to adapt to the idea.

This post's rating:

Related Stories

Filed under: Costa Rica News on October 8th, 2008