Posted on 02/10/2010 7:23:05 PM PST by BIOCHEMKY
CNN) -- Costa Rica elected its first female president, as the ruling National Liberation Party claimed a historic victory.
"I want to thank the pioneering women who years ago opened the doors of politics in Costa Rica," Laura Chinchilla said Sunday to flag-waving supporters in the capital, San Jose. "My government will be open to all Costa Ricans of good faith."
Second-place candidate Otton Solis of the Citizen's Action Party had conceded defeat earlier in the evening, as the PLN -- the Spanish acronym for the National Liberation Party party -- forged its way to a nearly 2-to-1 lead.
Polls showed Chinchilla garnering 46.8 percent of the vote, with 84 percent of election sites reporting. Solis had 25.1 percent, while Otto Guevara of the Libertarian Movement had 20.9 percent.
Election day was festive throughout the nation, with video footage showing supporters of the main presidential candidates dressed in their respective campaign colors.
International observers interviewed on CNN affiliate Teletica compared the election scene to a festival.
The festivities included election sites where children could vote in a mock presidential vote. The educational outreach let the children pick their candidate on a digital ballot not unlike the ones the rest of the electorate cast their votes with.
Some 2.8 million Costa Ricans are eligible to vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I say this victory helps pave the way for a Palin victory in the 50 states in 2012 and if Palin were smart she would have Chinchilla tour with her on the campaign trail, especially in CA, AZ, NM, TX, and Florida.
They elected a fur coat to be President?
Not only is she a woman, but she also speaks Spanish.
silly, lol.
Yeah... Costa Rican election results having long been a fool-proof predictor of American results... sheesh.
If you want to pick a way-paver, wouldn't a serious heavyweight like Maggie Thatcher be more appropriate?
The NLP is the far-left party of Costa Rica.
Palin can’t show up in public with a Chinchilla. Those PETA whackos will throw paint all over it.
Or perhaps she stole the election:)
I doubt that Sarah needs your Latin American Socialist buddy to campaign for her in 2012.
What next, do want her to campaign with Hugo Chavez?
Yes, because there has never been a female head of state before, anywhere, ever.
Pity Sarah couldn’t be the first to break through this glass ceiling.
There have been a goodly number of queens through the ages, haven’t there?
HUH???
The PLN is a far left party, an official member of the Socialist International (that’s not just an expression, they are formally and explicitly a party within the Socialist International).
Why would Sarah want anything to do with them, and why would they have anything to do with Sarah?
It will not and should not ever happen.
Judging by the comments on this thread, you made a real oopsie by posting this thread (and for gushing over a left-wing election victor).
Serious bummer, dude. Better luck next time.
Even though their politics and economic views would be different, i'm surprised that you forgot about Golda Mier. She was a tough old grandmother.
i hope she does well
Her party may be Leftist, but Chinchilla is (i) fiercely anti-abortion, (ii) fiercely anti-same-sex-marriage, (iii) tough on crime, (iv) pro-free-trade, and (v) in favor of keeping the Catholic Church as the established churchnof Costa Rica. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Chinchilla
She sonds like she has a lot more in common with Palin than with Obama.
Hmmmm ..?? I don’t think Sarah Palin needs ANYBODY to pave anything for her .. she’s capable of paving her own way.
And .. There are women who head Argentina and Germany; so Sarah is already in good company.
And Bhutto.
She wouldn’t even be the first one in the Americas - Bachelet and Kirchner come to mind, there are probably others escaping me right now.
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