Miguel Ángel Rodríguez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 8th Secretary General of the Organization of American States | |
| In office 15 September 2004 – 15 October 2004 |
|
| Preceded by | César Gaviria |
| Succeeded by | Luigi R. Einaudi acting |
| 43rd President of Costa Rica | |
| In office 8 May 1998 – 8 May 2002 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 January 9, 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 of President José Joaquín Trejos Fernández. 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 and address questions about his time as president. A legal process related to his presidency took place, and later, a court decided he was not responsible for the charges.
As president, Rodríguez aimed to open up state-run services like insurance and telecommunications. He also wanted to increase the private sector's role in public projects and improve the social welfare system. Some of his proposed changes led to protests and were not fully carried out at the time. However, some of these reforms were later put into action when Costa Rica joined the DR-CAFTA trade agreement in 2009.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez was born in San José, Costa Rica. He studied at the University of Costa Rica, earning degrees in economics in 1962 and law in 1963. After that, he taught economics there for a short time.
He then 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 governments manage money and the economy.
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 presidency of José Joaquín Trejos Fernández.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Rodríguez continued his academic work as an economics professor. He taught at the University of Costa Rica and the Autonomous University of Central America. During this time, he also started a business in cattle farming called Grupo Ganadero Industrial, S.A.
Rodríguez is a devoted Roman Catholic. His brother, Álvaro Rodríguez, is a leader in the De La Salle Brothers religious order.
Political Career Highlights
Rodríguez was the President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica from 1991 to 1992. He ran for president three times. In 1990, he did not win his party's nomination. In 1994, he won his party's nomination but lost the election to José María Figueres. He finally became president in 1998.
During his presidency, he worked on reforms, including changes to the retirement system. He also allowed a private company to manage the main port in the Pacific Ocean, Caldera. After his term as president, Rodríguez worked as a consultant and a visiting professor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C..
Economic and Social Views
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez is known for supporting free enterprise. He believes in market reforms and encouraging foreign investment in the economy.
He is also considered a social conservative. In 1998, he expressed his views on a festival planned in Quepos, Costa Rica. He stated that authorities should not grant permits for public activities related to the festival.
Secretary-General of the OAS
On June 7, 2004, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez was chosen to be the Secretary General of the OAS. He took over from César Gaviria. He started his term on September 15, 2004.
However, he served for only one month. He stepped down on October 8, 2004, and returned to Costa Rica. Assistant Secretary General Luigi Einaudi then became the Acting Secretary General.
See also
In Spanish: Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría para niños
