Rodrigo Chaves pumps his fist after casting his poll at a polling station throughout a runoff presidential election, in San Jose, Costa Rica, on April 3, 2022. (AP Picture/Carlos Gonzalez)
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA --
A former finance minister who shocked many by making it into Costa Rica's presidential runoff vote has simply gained that poll and is to turn out to be the Central American nation's new chief subsequent month, whereas nonetheless warding off accusations of sexual harassment when he labored on the World Financial institution.
With almost all polling stations reporting late Sunday, conservative economist Rodrigo Chaves had 53% of the vote, in comparison with 47% for former President José Figueres Ferrer, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal mentioned.
Greater than 42% of eligible voters didn't take part in Sunday's election, nonetheless, reflecting the dearth of enthusiasm Costa Ricans had for the candidates.
In his victory speech, Chaves mentioned he obtained the outcome with humility and referred to as for unity to handle issues like unemployment and a hovering funds deficit.
“For me this isn't a medal nor a trophy, however quite an infinite duty, heaped with challenges and difficulties that we'll all resolve,” he mentioned.
“Costa Rica, the very best is to return!” Chaves mentioned earlier than celebrating supporters. His inauguration is scheduled for Could 8.
Figueres conceded defeat lower than an hour after outcomes started to return in. He had led the primary spherical of voting Feb. 6, with Chaves in second that day. Neither had come near the 40% of the vote wanted to keep away from a runoff.
“Costa Rica has voted and the individuals have spoken,” Figueres mentioned. “Because the democrats we're we'll all the time be respectful of that call.”
He congratulated Chaves and wished him the very best, including that continues to consider that Costa Rica is in a “deep disaster” and he's prepared to assist it get better.
Figueres, who was Costa Rica's president from 1994 to 1998, represents the Nationwide Liberation Occasion like his father, three-time president José Figueres Ferrer. Chaves served briefly within the administration of outgoing President Carlos Alvarado and represents the Social Democratic Progress Occasion.
Each males waged a bruising marketing campaign that highlighted previous controversies.
Chaves’ marketing campaign is beneath investigation by electoral authorities for allegedly working an unlawful parallel financing construction. He additionally has been dogged by a sexual harassment scandal that drove him out of the World Financial institution.
Whereas working on the World Financial institution he was accused of sexual harassment by a number of ladies, was finally demoted after which resigned. He has denied the accusations.
The World Financial institution’s administrative Tribunal final yr criticized the way in which the case was initially dealt with internally.
The tribunal famous that an inner investigation had discovered that from 2008 to 2013 Chaves leered at, made unwelcome feedback about bodily look, repeated sexual innuendo and unwelcome sexual advances towards a number of financial institution staff. These particulars had been repeated by the financial institution’s human sources division in a letter to Chaves, nevertheless it determined to sanction him for misconduct quite than sexual harassment.
“The details of the current case point out that (Chaves’) conduct was sexual in nature and that he knew or ought to have identified that his conduct was unwelcome,” the tribunal wrote. The tribunal additionally famous that within the proceedings, the banks present vice chairman for human sources mentioned in testimony “that the undisputed details legally quantity to sexual harassment.”
Greater than 3.5 million Costa Ricans had been eligible to vote, however with many citizens underwhelmed by the choices, turnout was even decrease than the 60% in February.
Traces fashioned earlier than voting began at some polling locations in San Jose, the capital, whereas others appeared almost empty.
Political analyst Francisco Barahona mentioned Costa Ricans' lack of enthusiasm was the results of the multitude of private assaults that characterised the marketing campaign.
“Within the debates they solely heated issues up in private confrontations, mistreatment of one another,” he mentioned. “They did not add depth to their proposals to resolve the nation's issues. The debates did not assist to encourage the citizens.”
“For lots of people it is embarrassing to say they voted for one or the opposite, and plenty of want to say they will not vote for both of the candidates or just will not go to vote,” Barahona added.
Figueres has been questioned over a US$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.
Whereas Costa Rica has loved relative democratic stability in contrast with different international locations within the area, the general public has grown annoyed with public corruption scandals and excessive unemployment.
Within the February vote, Alvarado’s celebration was virtually erased from the political panorama, receiving no seats within the new congress. On the time of that first vote, the nation was using a brand new wave of COVID-19 infections, however infections and hospitalizations have fallen significantly since.
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