President-Elect Arias Announces His Cabinet
President-elect Oscar Arias Sanchez, as expected, announced his cabinet for the new administration to take office on May 8. The new government will be made of 18 ministers, of which 13 are men and five are women.

Arias has placed his faith in a number of lawyers, economists, engineers, a teacher, a doctor and a biologist among his ministers who will head the various government agencies for the next four years, if there aren't any resignations.

"I chose collaborators very carefully in an effort to restore public confidence and keeping my promise to be surrounded by the best men and women, not only for their intellectual but for their experience in public service", said Arias in making his cabinet announcement.

The president-elect said that unfortunately many talented people are not taking part in his administration, refusing his call to public service, mainly due to the low salaries offered by the government post in relation to their current income. Arias added that he hopes they will join him in patriotism and support his administration.

Heading the new administration will be his brother, Rodrigo Arias, who is will be Ministro de la Presidencia. Rodrigo is a lawyer and just completed his sixtieth birthday and has been by his brother's side from the beginning of the presidential campaign.

Aria's administration will also see the first and second vice-presidents take up a ministerial role. Laura Chinchilla, first vice-president, will take over at Justicia and Gracia, while Kevin Casas, second vice-president, will head Planificación Nacional.