Laura Chinchilla

Chinchilla took office with the National Liberation Party holding 24 of the Legislative Assembly's 57 seats, giving her party a plurality. It attempted to reelect Luis Gerardo Villanueva as the assembly's president in violation of procedure, resulting in Juan Carlos Mendoza García of the Citizen's Action Party taking the position.[10]^: 104 Chinchilla had a mixed relationship with the legislature, feuding with both the opposition and with members of her own party. Political researcher Constantino Urcuyo estimated that only 12 members of the legislature were allied with her.[10]^: 105 One year into her term, Chinchilla rejected Mendoza's proposal to raise congressional pay, causing the coalition government to break down.[10]^: 104

Chinchilla did not have a strong political base among her constituents while president, even from voters within her own party.[10]^: 117 Much of her political capital was contingent on her association with Arias. When she diverged from his policy positions, she lost his backing as well as that of his supporters.[10]^: 119

Chinchilla's leadership was challenged in 2011 when Arias's brother, Rodrigo Arias Sánchez, announced his candidacy for president in the 2014 general election. Making such an announcement shortly after Chinchilla took office was seen as a criticism of her leadership.[10]^: 118 This dispute caused legislators in the National Liberation Party to split into factions, with Arias supporters demanding changes in Chinchilla's administration.[12]^: 16

In 2010, the military of Nicaragua occupied the uninhabited Isla Calero, a disputed territory between the two nations. Chinchilla responded by writing a criticism of the action in the Miami Herald and seeking adjudication from the International Court of Justice. The court ordered both nations to evacuate the island in March 2011, and her response to the incident is often considered a high point of her presidency.[10]^: 106

By mid-2011, President Chinchilla decided to build a 160 kilometer gravel road along the river, as a response to what she and her government saw as a Nicaraguan invasion of Costa Rican territory. The road was officially named “Ruta 1858, Juan Rafael Mora Porras” to honor a Costa Rican hero in a show of national pride.[14]

The road was to stretch more than 150 km. A decree of emergency allowed the government to waive environmental regulations and oversight from the General Comptroller (Contraloria General de la Republica). Neither environmental nor engineering studies were conducted before the road was announced. There were accusations of mismanagement and corruption. The Ministerio Publico (Costa Rican attorney general) announced an official inquiry about the charges of corruption. Francisco Jiménez, minister of public works and transportation, was dismissed by Chinchilla as a consequence of the affair.

Chinchilla presented a significant image of "soft or feminine" leadership. This was in part because of her leadership style of collaborating with others. Her supporters saw this as a sign of conciliation, while detractors saw it as an inability to act independently.[10]^: 90–91 Her leadership was often contrasted with that of her predecessor, Arias, who maintained a strong, authoritative image and was less open to collaboration.[10]^: 92

In 2013, the Mexican opinion poll firm Consulta Mitofsky released a survey that placed Chinchilla as the least popular president in Latin America with a 13% approval rate, just behind Porfirio Lobo of Honduras.[15] At the end of Chinchilla's presidency, Costa Rica had many economic troubles. Public debt had reached 50% of GDP, unemployment was steadily rising and, despite high annual growth, 20% of the population lived below the poverty line.[16] In 2016, Chinchilla was considered one of the most powerful women in Central America according to the World Economic Forum.[17]

Chinchilla appointed 42 cabinet ministers during her presidency, and she kept several ministers from the Arias presidency.[10]^: 151 Her selection of ministers emphasized technocratic and academic experience, though the appointment of Minister of Planning Laura Alfaro was seen as a personal gesture.[10]^: 159 Minister of Public Works and Transportation Francisco Jiménez was relieved from his position due to scandal.[10]^: 161 Chinchilla elevated the National Institute of Women to cabinet level status.[10]^: 152

The following were members of Chinchilla's presidential cabinet. Names marked with an asterisk (*) also held the position during Arias's presidency.[10]^{: 153–154}

At the time of Chinchilla's inauguration, the Great Recession had caused Costa Rica's economy to decline, and recovery from the recession took place during her term. GDP growth reached 5% at its highest point while she was president, while overall poverty and unemployment increased.[10]^: 117

Chinchilla was expected to give continuity to the previous government's pro-free trade policies.[18] She signed free trade agreements with China and Singapore, but the deals were not completed.[10]^: 117 Chinchilla also began the process of incorporating Costa Rica into the OECD.[19]

Chinchilla increased taxes on corporations and allocated the funds to security.[10]^: 118

Chinchilla had significant experience in security issues when she was elected president, as this was the main area in which she worked, and it was one of her main policy areas of interest.[10]^: 51 Her security policy saw a mixed response. During her presidency, the number of homicides went down, but other violent crimes became more common.[10]^: 118 Femicide declined during her term by nearly 70%.[20] In her first hundred days as president, Chinchilla hired hundreds of police officers and expanded the country's prison capacity.[12]^: 22 After conducting a citizen consultation, the Citizen Security and Social Peace Policy (POLSEPAZ) was designed,[21] defining the main strategic lines of action and the need to promote a comprehensive, sustainable and state policy on the matter.

Chinchilla rejected more punitive measures against crime outside of major drug trafficking crimes. Instead, she described poverty and inequality as leading causes of crime, and her welfare policy was integrated with her security policy. She held a moderate position on crime, favoring strong enforcement in conjunction with prevention.[22]

Chinchilla was a supporter of environmentalist policies while she was president. During her campaign, she declared her intention to see Costa Rica be carbon neutral by 2021.[10]^: 108 In 2011, she implemented Costa Rica's second moratorium on petroleum exploitation, which was later extended. To do so, she cited the constitution's guarantee of a right to a health environment. Costa Rica only had limited petroleum operations, but the move was met with extended legal challenges from energy companies.[23]

The government sustainability variable was displayed by Chinchilla promoting policies for the generation of clean energy which exceeded 90% of electricity generation from renewable sources, at the end of her term.[24] Equal importance was given to the protection of the seas, through Chinchilla's extension of marine protection zones and a strong fight against shark finning,[25] this led to international recognition for her efforts made towards sustainability.[26]

One of Chinchilla's first actions upon taking office was to restore a ban on open-pit gold mining, which had been a subject of controversy in Arias's presidency.[12]^: 17

Education became one Chinchilla's greatest priorities. She moved into action Article 78 of Costa Rica’s Constitution, The Strengthening Education Effort, whereby the government must allocate 8% of its funding toward education. During her tenure the actual figure reached 7.2%, the highest of any country in the region.

Chinchilla continued the Avancemos program that Arias had established in 2006 to give financial support to families in extreme poverty as their children progress in school.[10]^: 234

After leaving office, Chinchilla joined Arias and other Latin American figures in a joint statement supporting the Cuban thaw and demanding democracy in Cuba.[27]

One of Chinchilla's main programs as president was Red de Cuido (Network of Care), which funded child care and elderly care.[10]^: 107 It was first established after she took office in 2010, having spoken about it extensively during her campaign. The program involved many organizations, such as the Joint Social Welfare Institute, CEN-CINAI PANI, local governments, community NGOs, and churches. The program was expanded in May 2014 when Chinchilla signed the National Network of Care into law, creating the Technical Secretariat of the Network of Care. 852 new care sites had been built through the program during Chinchilla's presidency.[10]^: 233 This program was recognized by international organizations.[28]

Chinchilla opposed separation of church and state in Costa Rica, wishing to retain its status as a Roman Catholic nation.[29]

Chinchilla opposed abortion and emergency contraception as president. She also opposed in vitro fertilisation, but she legalized it in April 2013 following an order from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.[10]^{: 235–236}

Chinchilla personally opposed same-sex marriage as president, but she agreed to sign bill that made it legal. The law was later rejected as invalid by the courts.[10]^: 235