The fitting-wing former finance minister defeated centrist former President Jose Maria Figueres amid low turnout.
Economist Rodrigo Chaves, a right-wing former finance minister, has received a runoff presidential election in Costa Rica amid rising unemployment and a hovering price range deficit.
Chaves, whose ascent to the runoff race shocked many, received comfortably with 53 % of the vote to centrist former President Jose Maria Figueres’s 47 %, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal stated on Sunday.
He delivered a victory speech shortly after Figueres, who served as president from 1994 to 1998, conceded defeat.
“For me, this isn’t a medal nor a trophy, however quite an infinite accountability, heaped with challenges and difficulties that we are going to all resolve,” stated Chaves, who will take workplace on Could 8.
“Costa Rica, one of the best is to come back!” Chaves stated earlier than celebrating supporters.
Nonetheless, greater than 42 % of the nation’s 3.5 million eligible voters didn’t take part in Sunday’s ballot, reflecting the shortage of enthusiasm for the candidates, neither of whom got here near profitable the 40 % of votes wanted to keep away from a runoff through the first spherical of voting on February 6.
Figueres, who represents the Nationwide Liberation Get together like his father, three-time President Jose Figueres Ferrer, advised supporters, “Costa Rica has voted and the individuals have spoken.”
“Because the democrats, we’re we are going to all the time be respectful of that call,” he stated.
On the marketing campaign path, each candidates pitched themselves as leaders who might flip across the nation’s fortunes.
Costa Rica, which has a inhabitants of about 5 million, has seen twenty years of unemployment steadily growing and inequality rising.
The nation slipped deeper into debt through the COVID-19 pandemic, which hobbled its profitable eco-tourism business.
The outcomes topped a bruising marketing campaign the place each candidates’ previous controversies have been placed on full show.
Chaves, who served briefly within the administration of outgoing President Carlos Alvarado and represents the Social Democratic Progress Get together, has been below investigation for allegedly operating an unlawful parallel marketing campaign financing construction.
He was additionally accused by a number of girls of sexual harassment when he labored on the World Financial institution. He was finally demoted after which resigned from the establishment, however has denied the accusations.
His combative fashion and confrontational strategy to the media have earned him comparisons to former US President Donald Trump.
For his half, Figueres has been questioned over a $900,000 consulting payment he obtained after his presidency from the telecommunication firm Alcatel whereas it competed for a contract with the nationwide electrical energy firm. He was by no means charged with any crime and denied any wrongdoing.
Chaves will take workplace subsequent month together with his social gathering holding simply 10 of the nationwide parliament’s 57 seats, whereas the social gathering of Figueres, who got here first in an indecisive first-round vote in February, has 19.
He’ll exchange President Carlos Alvarado, whose reputation has tanked because the economic system has flagged. In February, Alvarado’s social gathering didn’t win a single seat within the new congress.
A spokesman for the Supreme Electoral Court docket (TSE), Gustavo Ramon, stated Sunday’s voting was carried out “in peace and tranquillity”.