Costa Ricans on Sunday elected a former World Bank official accused of sexual harassment to be the country’s next president after a bruising campaign that was marked by low voter turnout.
With more than 95 per cent of the ballots counted, economist Rodrigo Chaves had 53 per cent of the vote compared with 47 per cent for José María Figueres, a former president, according to the electoral tribunal. Figueres accepted defeat on Sunday evening.
Chaves, who has worked outside the country for most of his career, had styled himself as a change candidate. He will take office in May and will need to work with other parties to advance his agenda.
The 60-year-old former finance minister has vowed to renegotiate a $1.8bn loan from the IMF secured last year aimed at supporting the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic. He has also indicated that he wants to strengthen trade ties in the Asia-Pacific region and attract more Chinese tourists.
“I take on the sacred commitment to make a democratic government based on respectful dialogue, the constitution, the law and Costa Rican values,” Chaves said in a speech in the capital San José after the results were released.
The negative tone of the campaign and high rejection rates of both candidates meant turnout was about 57 per cent, low by the country’s standards and less than in the first round in February.
The economy of Costa Rica, known as a stable eco-tourism destination in a turbulent region, grew more than 7 per cent in 2021 following the pandemic. But the new president will have to navigate cutting the deficit under the IMF deal while tackling high unemployment with a congress split across different parties.
Chaves’ Social Democratic Progress party will have 10 seats in the country’s 57-seat congress, and will have to rely on coalitions to pass legislation.
Chaves worked for decades for the World Bank, including as its chief in Indonesia before returning to Costa Rica for a seven-month stint as finance minister for the current government.
Several female World Bank colleagues have accused him of sexual harassment, including making unwelcome sexual comments, inquiries about personal relationships and attempts to kiss them, according to an administrative tribunal decision at the institution.
Chaves was demoted and his access to the premises was later restricted, the decision showed. The bank apologised to the women for mishandling the sexual harassment claims.
Chaves has denied misconduct.
His presidential campaign is also being investigated by electoral authorities for alleged illegal financing. Chaves has said that the trust being probed complied with the rules.
Source: Economy - ft.com
