Caribbean & Central America - April 2006 (ISSN 1741-4458)
COSTA RICA: Future Arias government begins to take shape
As the guests begin to confirm their places at Oscar Arias's investiture, taking place on 8 May, the details of his cabinet and his goals for his four-year term are coming to light. Despite his self-confessed "humbling", by the slim nature of his victory over Ottón Solís, Arias appears determined to push ahead with the Central American Free Trade Agreement (Cafta) as a way of realising his goal of reducing poverty levels in the country from 21% to 17% by 2010.
Economic stability
The outgoing president, Abel Pacheco, who according to one local newspaper's survey has failed to honour 59% of his campaign promises during his term, appears content that he is handing over an economy "in good shape", noting that despite the difficulties created by the high price of oil, both exports and tourism are booming. Arias has said that he will keep the current president of the central bank, Paula Gutiérrez, in her job.
The new president is going to downsize his cabinet from 19 to 16 posts. Of these, 11 have served in previous administrations as ministers or vice-ministers. They will be charged with fulfilling Arias's promise to be the scourge of monopolies, both public and private. Already he has stated his intention to break up the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, the state telecoms monopoly. Among the new cabinet members are a prominent businessman, Marco Vinicio Ruiz, in charge of foreign trade; Rodrigo Arias, brother of the president, as minister of the presidency and Bruno Stagno, a career diplomat, at the foreign ministry. The two vice-presidents, Laura Chinchilla and Kevin Casas will serve in the ministries of justice and planning, respectively.
One interesting feature of the next legislature, due to take over on 1 May, a week earlier than the new president, will be the number of women. The 22 congresswomen will make up 38% of the 57-seat legislature, putting Costa Rica in the first place in Latin America and third place in the world ranking for women's representation in congress.