Laura Chinchilla
Laura Chinchilla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President-elect of Costa Rica | |
| Assuming office 8 May 2010 | |
| Vice President | Alfio Piva |
| Succeeding | Óscar Arias |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 March 1959 |
| Political party | National Liberation Party |
| Alma mater | Template:DiscusshlGeorgetown UniversityTemplate:/discusshl |
Laura Chinchilla Miranda (born March 28, 1959) is a Costa Rican politician and first female President-elect of Costa Rica. She was one of Óscar Arias Sánchez's two Vice-Presidents and his administration's Minister of Justice.[1] She was the governing PLN candidate for President in the 2010 general election, where she won with 46.76% of the vote.[2]
Political career
Prior to entering politics, Chinchilla worked as an NGO consultant in Latin America and Africa, specializing in judicial reform and public security issues. She went on to serve in the José María Figueres Olsen administration as vice-minister for public security (1994–1996) and minister of public security (1996–1998). From 2002 to 2006, she served in the National Assembly as a deputy for the province of San José.
Chinchilla was one of two vice-presidents elected under the second Arias administration (2006–2010). She resigned the vice-presidency in 2008 in order to prepare her run for the presidency in 2010. On 7 June 2009 she won the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) primary with a 15% margin over her nearest rival, and was thus endorsed as the party's presidential candidate.
Political positions
Chinchilla's Partido Liberación Nacional is a member of the Socialist International,[3] whose motto is the promotion of "progressive politics for a better world." On November 28, 2009, Chinchilla became Costa Rica's only mainstream party candidate to participate and voice support for a controversial march dubbed "March for Life and Family". Organized by a coalition of church leaders, its stated mission opposed the legalization of abortion and granting recognition for civil unions to same-sex couples.[4] Laura Chinchilla Miranda's participation raised concerns among several Costa Rican civil and human rights leaders[5] who have regarded the event as pandering to fundamentalism and homophobia. Chinchilla stated that the march was not "against any group".[6] She also ardently opposed any amendment of the constitution aimed at separation of church and state in Costa Rica. The constitution currently defines the Republic of Costa Rica as a Roman Catholic nation.[7] Oscar Arias, as president expressed support for passing legislation to separate church and state.[8] Chinchilla also opposes legalization of the morning after pill, which is banned in Costa Rica.[9] Conservatives in Latin American countries oppose the morning after pill from a belief that it would be in fact an abortifacient. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that emergency contraception cannot be an abortifacient, because it will not work if the woman is already pregnant.[10]
See also
References
- ^ CIA World Factbook
- ^ Supreme Court of Elections.
- ^ "SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS". Socialist International.
- ^ "Thousands March Against Gay Civil Unions in Costa Rica". Costa Rica Pages.
- ^ Navarro del Valle, Hermes (2009-11-24). "Una marcha vergonzosa". La Prensa Libre.
- ^ "LAURA CHINCHILLA CREARÁ MINISTERIO DE LA FAMILIA". informe-c.info.
- ^ elnuevoalcazar.es
- ^ "Presidente Oscar Arias apoya reforma para declarar estado laico a Costa Rica". el Economista. 2009-09-10.
- ^ MURILLO, ÁLVARO (2010-02-09). "Una mujer de ordeno y mando". El Pais.
- ^ Pan American Health Organization: emergency contraception PDF, World Health Organization
External links
- laura-chinchilla.com - non-official Laura Chinchilla information portal
- Costa Rica News article
- World leaders
