Chinchilla spending millions of dollars on PR to improve her image

April 18^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) For every public speaking engagement given by President Chinchilla, her administration pays $2,000 each to public relations firm, Eureka Public Relations, to help craft her message.  The current contract with Eureka is for $20,000 to help craft messaging on 10 speeches or public messages.  The agreement calls for the PR firm to “investigate, analyze, and organize information to serve as input for the development of messages or speeches.”

The president will use a further $300,000 to improve her public image.  Communication Minister, Francisco Chacon, said that the services are funded with a grant from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).

Moreover, the government will be paying another company nearly $100,000 for statistical services to demonstrate the accountability and transparency of the Chinchilla administration.

In addition, there is a tender pending for $200,000 to organize 10 public activities.

In total, the executive branch has budgeted more than $2,000,000 for publicity, advertising, and communications for 2013 – a 50% increase over 2012.