Costa Rica is heading for a radical change with the election of anti-organization economist Rodrigo Chavez in the second round of elections this Sunday. With more than 95% of the vote counted, the surprising candidate in the election has 52.81% of the vote, compared to 47.2% for former President Jose Maria Figueroa. The maximum representative of the traditional politics taught by his rival.

“I solemnly accept this sacred decision of the Costa Rican people,” Chavez said in his first statement as President-elect. “For me this decision is not a medal or trophy, but a huge responsibility.” In addition, he called on his rival, Jose Maria Figueroa, to work together to resolve the economic crisis affecting the country and to achieve the “miracle of Costa Rica”. With only 10 representatives from his party in the 57-seat parliament, the new president will need deals.

Before Chavez spoke to his followers in San Jose, Jose Maria Figueroa did the same to give his rival victory. “Costa Rica has voted, and people have spoken. I congratulate Rodrigo Chavez. We Democrats will always respect that decision, ”he told his supporters. “It’s time to close the teams as a Costa Rican family. It’s time to let go of hatred and animosity,” he added.

Chavez will be Costa Rica’s next president from May 8, in which he portrays himself as a “change” against traditional politicians and pledges to fight corruption. The economist was able to emerge as a powerful candidate after the first round of February Faces controversy over allegations of sexual harassment In the past when I worked at the World Bank. The 60-year-old economist, almost 1.90 feet tall, with a frantic verb, justified the actions he was allowed in the international community as “jokes” before resigning in 2019 without any other job in his view. Once in Costa Rica, he made his political debut as a surprise finance minister in the current Carlos Alvarado government, where he served for six months.

Central American country enjoyed Election journey With abnormal friction and indifference. The Costa Ricans voted in a context of political unrest and two candidates running in the second round in question. There was a great deal of uncertainty and animosity between the two sides, which lasted until more than 2,100 polling stations closed at 6:00 pm local time, and a day later the most enthusiastic supporters of both candidates sought to counter the discouragement of the majority. The people reacted as an indicator that they did not vote in the referendum Reached 40% in the first round.

Former President Oscar Arias, winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, said, “It’s more like a rooster fight than an election party.

Among Chavez’s supporters, anti-figurine messages of “corruption” and “representing those who keep us bad” prevailed, accusing young Luis Diego Lopez, who wore a shirt with the caption “party over”. Chavez’s campaign. Introducing himself in an election from his Social Democratic Progressive Party (PPSD), the candidate promises to remove “powerful groups” from power and bring the people there.

A group of people sent similar messages to Fijius when he went to vote at 7 a.m. in the city of San Cristobal Sur, a suburb of San Jose, before going to the tomb of his father, Jose Fijius, who ruled Costa Rica three times. In the 20th century. “This is a very tough campaign,” he said. At another time, slanders went in line with the candidate’s comments against the journalists who followed Chavez, shouting “rogue press” and against the negative press releases.

A 70-year-old woman wrapped in a large PLN flag was hanging at her polling station in the countryside of Alajuela, west of the Central Valley. “I do not know if I’m just proud of what I voted for, but that’s the problem. Many people are going to support him because they know Chaos’ danger, but they do not explicitly express it, and it gives the impression that they are too much,” he told El PAÍS. He did not want to reveal his name. A recent poll released five days before the election gave Chavez an advantage, although he narrowed his gap to five points less than the former president.

Outside a polling station in Alajuela, 20 kilometers west of San Jose, ice cream vendor Ulysses Caranza lamented, “I did not sell anything. In the afternoon, it rained in a good part of the country, to make matters worse.” People are coming to terms and want to leave quickly. It’s not pretty anymore because those candidates have no enthusiasm, ”the person said in the morning. He is going to vote in the afternoon, but he still does not know for whom. Or he replied.

Meanwhile, there was a duller atmosphere on the streets than there was in the first round on February 6th. “There was no crowd. We have no complaints about the long queues, ”Hector Fernandez, a spokesman for the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), said at noon, but warned that the body would not be monitored.

It was the day when the green-and-white flag of the old National Liberation Party (PLN), known as the one represented by former President Jose Maria Figueroa, showed enthusiasm in the streets among Chavez supporters, hoping to strike a blow at traditional politics. Despite much public outcry against him, he ended the campaign by portraying himself as a card of sobriety.

Subscribe here Receive all important information about the EL PAÍS US Newsletter and current affairs in the region