SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — A former finance minister who surprised many by making it into Costa Rica’s presidential runoff vote has easily won that ballot and is to become the Central American country’s new leader next month, AP reported.
With nearly all polling stations reporting late Sunday, conservative economist Rodrigo Chaves had 53 per cent of the vote, compared to 47 per cent for former President José Figueres Ferrer, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said.
More than 42 per cent of eligible voters did not participate in Sunday’s election, however, reflecting the lack of enthusiasm Costa Ricans had for the candidates.
In his victory speech, Chaves said he received the result with humility and called for unity to address problems like unemployment and a soaring budget deficit.
“For me this is not a medal nor a trophy, but rather an enormous responsibility, heaped with challenges and difficulties that we will all resolve,” he said.
