SAN JOSÉ — Economist and former finance
minister Rodrigo Chaves is to be sworn in Sunday as
Costa Rica’s president for
a four-year mandate focused on reinvigorating one of Latin America’s most
stable economies.
اضافة اعلان
The former
World Bank executive, who resigned from
the global lender amid a sexual harassment scandal, has vowed to tackle Costa
Rica’s severe economic problems: rising foreign debt — about 70 percent of GDP
— a poverty rate of 23 percent, unemployment of 14 percent, and public sector
corruption.
Tourism, one of the country’s main economic drivers,
was hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and the country of 5.2 million people
experienced an increase in unemployment equaled in the region only by Peru.
“It is fundamental for the country that Chaves
improves the economy,” Adrian Aguiluz, a 35-year-old resident of the capital,
said ahead of the inauguration.
“This new government has an opportunity to do
something different.”
Chaves, who served six months as finance minister in
the outgoing government, won a runoff election over former president Jose Maria
Figueres — himself tainted by a corruption scandal.
The 60-year-old Chaves had been a surprise qualifier
for the April 3 runoff, having polled fourth ahead of February’s first round.
While he was a
senior official at the World Bank, where he worked for 30 years, he was
investigated over
sexual harassment complaints brought by multiple women.
He was demoted and later resigned to take on the
role of finance minister in President Carlos Alvarado’s government.
Last month, Chaves offered “sincere apologies” to
two accusers, young subordinates, having previously said the alleged harassment
amounted to mere “jokes” that were “misinterpreted due to cultural
differences.”
This week, Chaves said his government would not
ratify the Escazu Agreement that establishes protection for environmentalists,
arguing it was unnecessary and would harm the economy. Costa Rica, a regional
leader in environmental protection, had hosted the signing of the agreement in
2018.
The new president has also vowed to improve Costa
Rica’s deal with the IMF for a loan of more than $1.7 billion.
Spanish King Felipe VI is set to attend the ceremony in
San Jose, along with delegations from nearly 100 countries.
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