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Costa Rica’s new president Rodrigo Chaves was sworn in on Sunday, promising to battle corruption and revive the financial system.
The previous World Financial institution economist received a four-year time period final month in a runoff with former President Jose María Figueres, himself tainted by a corruption scandal.
The occasion of Chaves’ predecessor Carlos Alvarado was nearly obliterated throughout the first-round election in February, receiving no seats within the new Legislative Meeting.
Chaves’ Social Democratic Progressive Occasion has solely 10 of 57 seats within the legislature and he turned out to be a shock qualifier for the runoff, having come fourth within the first spherical.
What did Chaves inform voters?
Shortly after being given the ceremonial presidential sash, Chaves lashed out on the state of the nation, complaining of the excessive price of residing, crime, drug trafficking and lengthy strains at social safety places of work.
He warned that “if the political class fails another time, the nation may disintegrate.”
“We won’t solely put the home so as, we are going to rebuild it,” Chaves vowed. “Change is urgently wanted. I can’t settle for defeat. Costa Rica doesn’t have to just accept defeat.”
Guarantees on girls’s rights
Chaves additionally promised to stamp out gender discrimination and the abuse of girls, as feminist teams protested close by.
Their rally was a reminder to the 60-year-old former finance minister about allegations of sexual harassment that prompted his resignation from the World Financial institution.
An inside investigation discovered that from 2008 to 2013, Chaves made unwelcome feedback about bodily appearances and unwelcome sexual advances towards a number of financial institution staff.
Final month, he supplied “honest apologies” to 2 accusers, younger subordinates, having beforehand mentioned the alleged harassment amounted to mere “jokes” that have been “misinterpreted.”
Spain’s King Felipe VI and different heads of state or authorities and delegations from practically 100 nations traveled for the inauguration.
Shortly after his deal with, Chaves signed his first decrees, together with scrapping compulsory mask-wearing for most individuals.
Chaves has lengthy to-do checklist
Costa Rica, with a inhabitants of round 5 million, is taken into account probably the most politically steady nations in Central America.
However, the nation struggles with social inequality, corruption, starvation and drug trafficking.
Chaves takes over an financial system in decline, with rising international debt — about 70% of GDP — a poverty price of 23%, unemployment of practically 14%, and public sector corruption.
Tourism, one of many nation’s major financial drivers, was arduous hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, severely spiking unemployment.
Chaves has beforehand vowed to enhance the phrases of an settlement Costa Rica reached with the IMF for a mortgage of greater than $1.7 billion (€1.61 billion).
mm/wd (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
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