but when Laura Chinchilla is sworn in on May 8th she is liable to disappoint

advocates of women’s rights. She supports her country’s restrictions on

abortion and the morning-after pill, and opposes other liberal causes such

as gay marriage and the disestablishment of the church.

Mrs Chinchilla, of the centrist National Liberation Party, was elected with a

thumping 47% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates, thanks in part

to the popularity of her mentor and predecessor, Óscar Arias. Her party is

the biggest in congress, but holds only 24 of the 57 seats.

She plans closer ties in South America, and has toured Central America,

patching up relations with awkward neighbours such as Nicaragua’s leftist

autocrat, Daniel Ortega

source: economist.com

Reader comment:

Unfortunately, most regimes in Central America are repressive. They believe

that the way to combat delinquency and crime is by hiring more police, building

more prisons, hiring fewer teachers and investing very little in new and better

schools. Unfortunately, weak leaders often rely too much on force while strong

ones are determined by a vision, a long term one.

Update:

• Costa Rica's Laura Chinchilla sworn in as president

Laura Chinchilla, 51, has been sworn in as Costa Rican president,

joining a growing list of first female presidents in Latin America