LatinNews Daily Report - 02 March 2012

Costa Rica | Chinchilla conducts minor reshuffle. On 1 March President Laura Chinchilla reshuffled her cabinet after Planning Minister Laura Alfaro announced she was stepping down to take up a teaching post at Harvard University. Chinchilla has replaced Alfaro with Communications Minister Roberto Gallardo, who headed up the planning portfolio under the Oscar Arias administration (2006-2010). Gallardo in turn has been replaced by Francisco Chacón, a deputy for the ruling Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) who has also served as former deputy minister for foreign trade (1994-1997) and spokesperson for Chinchilla’s political campaign. Carolina Delgado, the deputy director of agriculture for the national production council (CNP) will take over Chacón’s seat. The officials will take up their new posts on 15 March.