Miguel Ángel Rodríguez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
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| 8th Secretary General of the Organization of American States | |
| In office 15 September 2004 – 15 October 2004 |
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| Preceded by | César Gaviria |
| Succeeded by | Luigi R. Einaudi acting |
| 43rd President of Costa Rica | |
| In office 8 May 1998 – 8 May 2002 |
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| Vice President | Astrid Fischel Volio Elizabeth Odio Benito |
| Preceded by | José María Figueres |
| Succeeded by | Abel Pacheco |
| Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica | |
| In office 1 May 1990 – september 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Fernando Volio Jiménez |
| Succeeded by | Alberto Cañas Escalante |
| Constituency | San José (1st Office) |
| Minister of the Presidency of Costa Rica | |
| In office 1 April – 8 May 1970 |
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| President | José Joaquín Trejos |
| Preceded by | Diego Trejos Fonseca |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Coto Albán |
| Director of the Office of National Planning | |
| In office 1967–1970 |
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| President | José Joaquín Trejos |
| Preceded by | Alberto Di Mare Fuscado |
| Succeeded by | Marco López Agüero |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 January 1940 San José, Costa Rica |
| Political party | PUSC |
| Spouse | Lorena Clare Facio |
| Education | University of Costa Rica University of California, Berkeley, (MA) (PHD) |
| Signature |  |
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría (born 9 January 1940) is a Costa Rican economist, lawyer, and politician. He served as the President of Costa Rica from 1998 to 2002.
Before becoming president, he held several important roles. He was a minister in the government and a member of the board for the Costa Rican Central Bank. He also served as a congressman and was the president of the Legislative Assembly. In 2004, he was chosen to be the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS). He later stepped down from this role to return to Costa Rica. He faced questions about his time as president, but a court later found him innocent of all charges.
As president, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez wanted to make changes to Costa Rica's economy. He aimed to open up state-run services like insurance and telecommunications. He also worked to increase the role of private businesses in public projects. Some of his ideas led to protests, but others, like changes to the retirement system, were successful.
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Early Life and Education
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez was born in San José, Costa Rica. He studied at the University of Costa Rica, where he earned degrees in economics in 1962 and law in 1963. After that, he went to the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. There, he earned both a Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in economics in 1966. His PhD research focused on how money policies work.
After finishing his studies, he returned to Costa Rica. He became the Minister of Planning and joined the board of directors of the Costa Rican Central Bank. This was during the government of President José Joaquín Trejos Fernández. In the 1970s and 1980s, he taught economics at universities. He also managed a business that raised cattle.
Rodríguez is a devoted Roman Catholic. His brother, Álvaro Rodríguez, is a leader in the De La Salle Brothers organization.
Political Journey
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez had a long career in politics. He was the President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica from 1991 to 1992. He ran for president of Costa Rica three times. In 1990, he did not win his party's nomination. In 1994, he won his party's nomination but lost the election. Finally, in 1998, he was elected president.
During his presidency, he worked on several reforms. He tried to end the government's control over telecommunications, but this plan faced opposition. However, he successfully reformed the retirement system, allowing private companies to be involved. He also arranged for a private company to manage the main port on the Pacific Ocean, called Caldera. After his time as president, Rodríguez worked as a consultant and a visiting professor.
Political Ideas
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez is known for believing in free enterprise. He supports market reforms and wants to encourage foreign businesses to invest in the economy.
Leader of the Organization of American States
On 7 June 2004, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez was chosen to be the Secretary General of the OAS. This organization works to promote peace and cooperation among countries in the Americas. He started his term on 15 September 2004.
He served for only one month before stepping down. He returned to Costa Rica to address questions that had come up about a government contract during his time as president. On 8 October 2004, he resigned from his OAS role. He was replaced by Luigi Einaudi, who became the Acting Secretary General.
After returning to Costa Rica, he faced investigations. On 27 April 2011, a court found him guilty. However, in December 2012, an appeals court reviewed the case. This court found him innocent of all charges.
Images for kids
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Miguel Ángel Rodríguez's signature
See also
In Spanish: Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría para niños
