Rodrigo Chaves Robles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rodrigo Chaves Robles
Official portrait, 2022
49th President of Costa Rica
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 May 2022
Vice President	Stephan Brunner (2022–2025) Mary Munive (2025–present)
Preceded by	Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Minister of Finance
In office 30 October 2019 – 28 May 2020
President	Carlos Alvarado Quesada
Preceded by	Rocío Aguilar Montoya
Succeeded by	Elián Villegas Valverde
Personal details
Born	Rodrigo Alberto de Jesús Chaves Robles (1961-06-10) 10 June 1961 (age 64) San José, Costa Rica
Political party	Independent (2023–present)
Other political affiliations	PPSD (2020–2022)
Spouses	Monika Hempel Nanne ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1996)​ Signe Zeicate ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	1
Alma mater	University of Costa Rica (no degree) Ohio State University (BS, MA, PhD)

Rodrigo Alberto de Jesús Chaves Robles (born 10 June 1961) is a Costa Rican politician and economist. He has served as the 49th president of Costa Rica since 2022. Before becoming president, he was the Minister of Finance from 2019 to 2020. This was during the presidency of Carlos Alvarado Quesada.

About Rodrigo Chaves

Rodrigo Chaves Robles was born in San José, Costa Rica, on 10 June 1961. He studied at Ohio State University, where he earned degrees in agricultural economics.

Before becoming a minister, Mr. Chaves worked for the World Bank. He was a country director for places like Indonesia, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In 1992, he also had a special research opportunity at Harvard University to study poverty in Indonesia. The World Bank later offered him a job to publish his research.

Mr. Chaves decided to leave his job at the World Bank. He stated that he wanted to avoid any possible conflicts of interest with his new role as a minister. Later, there was an internal review at the World Bank. Mr. Chaves denied any accusations made during this review.

Minister of Finance Role

Carlos Alvarado Quesada, who was president at the time, announced that Mr. Chaves would be the new Minister of Finance on 30 October 2019. Mr. Chaves officially started his role on 26 November that year. He shared his main goals: making sure tax laws were followed, collecting existing taxes better, fighting against tax evasion, and carefully managing government spending.

In February 2020, Mr. Chaves suggested a new law to the Legislative Assembly. This law aimed to use extra money from public institutions to help pay off the country's debt.

During the same month, Mr. Chaves made some changes in the leadership of the finance department. Several important officials, including the deputy minister of income and the directors of taxation, customs, and fiscal police, resigned.

On 26 March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic health crisis, Mr. Chaves proposed a special tax. This tax would apply to higher incomes to help workers who lost their jobs or had reduced hours because of the pandemic. After some businesses criticized the idea, President Alvarado decided not to go forward with it. The Minister of Communication said that the President's decision was final.

On 22 April 2020, a director from the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) spoke publicly about a comment Mr. Chaves made. Mr. Chaves had said that "nothing could be done to save the Fund" if it meant the country would go bankrupt.

On 19 May 2020, Mr. Chaves wrote a letter asking President Alvarado to reject a new law. This law would have allowed municipalities to be exempt from a rule about government spending. President Alvarado did not agree, and Mr. Chaves then resigned from his position.

Becoming President: The 2022 Election

In July 2021, Rodrigo Chaves announced he would run for president of Costa Rica.

During his campaign, Mr. Chaves and his Social Democratic Progress Party focused on fighting corruption. He wanted to make sure people reported any wrongdoing. He also spoke about making the government more open with the press, universities, and citizens. He planned to do this by sharing daily reports of what public institutions were doing.

To help with unemployment, he wanted to encourage more women to join the workforce. He also aimed to increase the number of students graduating in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). He supported teaching in two languages and welcomed foreign businesses to Costa Rica.

Mr. Chaves also proposed a five-step plan to lower the cost of living. This plan included removing taxes from basic food and household items, lowering the price of rice and electricity, ending monopolies, and helping farmers import better agricultural products. He also stated that he did not support mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

A news agency, Reuters, reported that Mr. Chaves was seen as someone who challenged the usual political system. A political expert from the University of Costa Rica described him as having ideas that were economically liberal, socially traditional, focused on law and order, and against the established political class.

On 6 February, it was announced that Rodrigo Chaves would compete against former president José María Figueres Olsen in the second round of the election. The second round took place on 3 April. Opinion polls before the second round showed Mr. Chaves in the lead. On 3 April, Costa Rican news agencies announced Mr. Chaves' victory.

In a public speech, Mr. Chaves accepted his win with humility. He asked Mr. Figueres to help him lead the country forward. Mr. Figueres quickly accepted the results and congratulated Mr. Chaves. The outgoing President, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, also called to congratulate Mr. Chaves and promised a smooth transfer of power.

Presidential Term: Key Events

Mr. Chaves officially became the 49th president of Costa Rica on 8 May 2022. He took his oath of office with a Bible in his hand. In his first speech, he said that "the fear of God is the basis of a ruler's wisdom."

Cyber Attack on the Government

About a month after a series of serious ransomware attacks began against the government, President Chaves declared a state of emergency. These attacks, which started on 17 April, were described as "unprecedented." They disrupted tax collection and exposed personal information of citizens. Experts said the attacks greatly affected the country's ability to function. A group called Conti claimed responsibility. The U.S. State Department offered a reward for information about the leaders of this group.

COVID-19 Policies

President Chaves changed some of the previous government's rules about the pandemic. He ended the requirement to wear masks in public places. He also issued a decree that encouraged public institutions not to punish employees who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. He also promised to investigate contracts made by the previous government.

Escazú Agreement Discussion

President Chaves did not ratify the Escazú Agreement. This agreement, created in 2018, aimed to give citizens more access to information about environmental issues and a greater say in related decisions. He stated that he wanted to "reassure the private sector" and did not see the fight against global warming as a top priority. He also announced plans to explore mining, natural gas, and oil resources again.

Discussions with Media Outlets

During his time as president, Rodrigo Chaves had disagreements with some major news organizations in Costa Rica. His government believed that state advertising funds should be shared more widely among many media outlets, instead of just a few large ones. This led to discussions about how the government and the press work together. There were also times when President Chaves openly shared his opinions about certain journalists during press conferences.

Logging Permits in Gandoca-Manzanillo

Mr. Chaves' government allowed some logging in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge. This decision led to discussions because the area is known for its environmental importance.

Honours and Awards

•  Panama:
  • Collar of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (23 August 2024)
•  Ukraine:
  • First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (23 August 2024)

See also

In Spanish: Rodrigo Chaves para niños

• List of current heads of state and government
• List of heads of the executive by approval rating