Thursday 09 October 2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Chinchilla Resigns As VP
To Run For President In 2010
Mud Slinging
Begins Following Chinchilla Resignation
Announcement
Chinese President To
Visit In November
First
Cruise Ship Of The Season Docks At Limón
Bilingual Job Fair
Begins Today
María José
Sings Her Heart Out
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Chinchilla Resigns As VP
To Run For President In 2010
As expected, Costa Rican
vice-president Laura
Chinchilla Miranda on
Wednesday officially
resigned to seek out the
nomination for the Partido Liberación
Nacional (PLN) for the
2010 presidential
elections.
Chinchilla, who was also
the ministra de Justicia
y Gracia, is the front
runner in the PLN race
to lead the party in
2010, followed by San
José mayor, Johnny Araya
and former ministro de
Seguridad, Fernando
Berrocal, in the latest
poll of decided PLN
members.
Chinchilla, for legal
matters, cannot place
her name in the ring
until the Tribunal
Supremo de Elecciones
(TSE) - Supreme
Elections Tribunal -
confirms her
resignation, which is
expected by Friday.
Yesterday's announcement
was no big surprise
following months of
speculation of "will she
or won't she", always
evading a definitive
answer to the media.
Chinchilla is the
favourite of Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias,
to take over his job in
2010. Arias was scolded
by the TSE for making
his views public on whom
he felt should take over
from him and lead the
PLN party. The TSE said
it was not correct for a
sitting president to
publicly support any one
candidate. Since then
Arias has been quiet on
the subject.
In ther resignation
letter read out in
public in the auditorium
of Casa Presidencial in
Zapote, Chinchilla
sArias for his support
since she was appointed
as vice-president in
2006 and was very
pleased with his
government.
"When Costa Ricans look
back and evaluate our
efforts, they will
recognize that this
government has been the
bravest and most
deciceful in recent
history. Thanks to the
experiences I have
aquired during the last
couple of years, I know
I have the valour to
take my own steps,
inspired and am
convinced that Costa
Rica has everything to
write the most beautiful
pages in its history",
said Chinchilla.
Chinchilla thanked Arias
for all his support
since she was appointed
vice-president on May 8,
2006 and was very
pleased with this
government and its
achievements.
President Arias said
that he is sorry to see
her go.
"I sincerely regret your
resignation, the
governement loses a
irreplaceable person. As
your friend, I
understand your decision
and I welcome it. I know
full well that sooner or
later all birds must
leave their nests. I
have followed your
career for almost 20
years and I will not be
the one to limit your
personal and
professional growth, a
growth that seems to
have no limits", said
Arias.
The president concluded
his words to doña Laura
by saying "you don't
anything to thank me
for, it is I who is
honoured have worked the
last three years next to
one of the most valued
women in Costa Rica". |
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Laura Chinchilla giving
Rodrigo Arias, ministro de la Presidencia and brother
prez Oscar (sitting), a kiss following her resignation
as the country's vice president. |
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