NEWSMAKER-Unheralded Costa Rican economist’s unlikely path to presidency
By Diego Oré
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Rodrigo Chaves was an unheralded economist in his native Costa Rica till a sequence of private setbacks propelled him into a short, ill-fated spell in authorities, then into the race for the presidency, which he received on Sunday.
Chaves held positions throughout the globe throughout practically three many years on the World Financial institution, till he left after an investigation into complaints of sexual harassment discovered he had engaged in misconduct, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Resigning from the financial institution in 2019, Chaves, 60, suffered one other blow when considered one of his sisters who taken care of his mom, died from most cancers that October.
A number of days later, President Carlos Alvarado invited Chaves to turn out to be finance minister. However he give up seven months later, blasting Alvarado for favoring political issues over financial rationale in his decision-making.
“They are saying I’m very boastful and really dictatorial, however I believe I say issues as they’re, and other people do not prefer it,” Chaves mentioned through the presidential marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, the finance ministry fired his curiosity in politics, and have become a springboard for his presidential aspirations, whilst he devoted himself to caring for his ailing mom.
Days earlier than she died in September 2020, he instructed her he was going to run for presidency, aiming to finish the privileges of the normal political class and deal with the poverty that impacts nearly 1 / 4 of the Central American nation’s inhabitants.
After wrongfooting pundits by coming runner-up in a primary spherical of voting in February, Chaves on Sunday night time accomplished his transformation, defeating former president Jose Maria Figueres in a second-round run-off by 53% to 47%.
PUGNACIOUS
Chaves was born in 1961 into a big lower-middle-class household within the capital San Jose, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Utilized Economics and Monetary Markets and Establishments from Ohio State College in america.
He subsequently led and took part in groups from the World Financial institution and the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) to evaluate monetary markets in rising international locations.
His 27-year profession on the World Financial institution took him to 45 international locations spanning America, Europe and Asia.
However in 2018, two feminine colleagues lodged complaints alleging inappropriate sexual habits relationship again years, in response to Chaves’ web site.
The World Financial institution carried out an inside overview through which it decided Chaves had engaged in misconduct and sanctioned him, Chaves mentioned. Chaves mentioned he returned to Costa Rica round that point to run the finance ministry.
“I’ve by no means inappropriately touched, insulted or deliberately any lady made uncomfortable,” he mentioned on his web site. “I got here again to Costa Rica as a result of I wished to.”
Luz Mary Alpizar, president of Chaves’ Social Democratic Progress Social gathering (PPSD), mentioned she regretted the allegations however that her social gathering nonetheless noticed Chaves as a really perfect candidate.
Some critics accused the PPSD of improper marketing campaign spending, allegations underneath overview by electoral authorities. Chaves has mentioned he was not concerned in overseeing social gathering financing.
Voters have been attracted by Chaves’ fiery speeches and opposition to conventional events, analysts say.
The now president-elect has proposed reducing the price of residing by way of decrees that will drop the worth of rice, electrical energy, drugs and farming provides.
He has additionally recommended holding referendums to bypass parliament, the place the PPSD can have solely 10 of 57 seats.
His confrontational type and coverage agenda have drawn comparisons with different anti-establishment leaders within the Americas comparable to former U.S. president Donald Trump, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro.
Chaves is married to an economist from Latvia, his second spouse, and has two daughters.
(Reporting by Diego Ore, Further reporting by Alvaro Murillo and Daina Beth Solomon; Enhancing by Alistair Bell)
