President Arias Does Have A Girlfriend Despite Past Denials
Costa Rica president, Oscar Arías Sanchez, has a girlfriend and she is not from show business as everyone had speculated, rather, she is a 45 year old housewife who has won the hear of the "jefe".

Giovanna Mendiola Sanchez is mother to four children and stays at home looking after her family and described as sweet and jovial.

Born on March 28, 1961, Giovanna is daughter of Francisco Mendiola and Odilie Sánchez and has an older sister and two younger brothers. Her children are aged 23, 20, 9 and 7 and has been married twice before.

Oscar denied rumous last year that he had a girlfriend and challenged the media to produce the woman whom they said he would marry in February.

A commentary by veteran and respected journalist, Javier Rojas González, on Radio Columbia, last November got the Costa Rican gossip mill (farándula) working over time. The gossip? Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, will be tying the knot come February.

Of course, the prez denied the rumour (see story of November 29) and challenged don Javier and the press to "introduce me to the bride because I don't know her. I would like him to present her to me. I have a lot of affection for don Javier, but I ask of him to show me this girlfriend."

President Arias shrugged off the gossip by saying that there is nothing to say on the subject and he has not time for these types of things. And, definitely there is no wedding. Nor are there any candidates, said the chief executive.

Arias, when pressed for his personal plans for the new year, said jokingly, that he would have to consult his crystal ball to see if there are any wedding plans for him in 2007.

However, after all the denials, the girlfriend is real and nothing made up, as she spoke to the Spanish daily Diario Extra on her relationship with the president, saying that it was time the relationship went public.

Giovanna, who is the president second cousin on the Sanchez side of the family, said she was attracted to him for his sensibility and that he represents and that he is a normal man and that she respects and admires him very much. She also confirmed that they had formalized their relationship months ago.

President Arias is 66 years old, born on September 13, 1940 and has two children from his previous marriage.