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Vice Presidents of the
Republic of Costa Rica
Coat of arms of Costa Rica.svg
Coat of arms of Costa Rica
Incumbent
Stephan Brunner and Mary Munive
since 8 May 2022
Term length Four years term, renewable non-consecutively
Inaugural holder Alberto Oreamuno Flores
Formation 7 November 1949

Costa Rica has two Vice Presidents. These important leaders are chosen by the people in an election, alongside the President. They serve for four years and cannot be re-elected right away. The idea of having a Vice President has changed many times throughout Costa Rica's history. Vice Presidents step in to help or take over if the President is temporarily away or can no longer serve.

History of the Vice Presidency

Over the years, Costa Rica has used different ways to make sure someone could take over if the president was absent. Here's how the role has changed:

  • From 1821 to 1848, there were different types of "vice-heads-of-state" or "vice-presidents of the state." These roles were often chosen by committees or elected by the people.
  • From 1859 to 1949, the country used a system of "designates to the presidency." These were people chosen, usually by the country's lawmakers, to step in if needed.
  • Since 1949, the Constitution created the system we have today: two Vice Presidents who are directly elected by the people.

What Vice Presidents Do

Besides being ready to take over for the President, Vice Presidents in Costa Rica can also be asked to lead government ministries. This means they can be in charge of important areas like education, health, or the economy, helping the country run smoothly.

Vice Presidents of Costa Rica (Since 1949)

Since the 1949 Constitution, Costa Rica has had two Vice Presidents. They are elected by the people at the same time as the President. Here are the Vice Presidents who have served under this system:

Vice Presidents of Costa Rica Time in Office Important Notes
1) Alberto Oreamuno Flores; 2) Alfredo Volio Mata 1949–1953 Both served as temporary presidents when needed.
1) Raúl Blanco Cervantes [es]; 2) Fernando Esquivel Bonilla 1953–1958 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Abelardo Bonilla Baldares [es]; 2) José Joaquín Peralta Esquivel 1958–1962 Abelardo Bonilla Baldares served as temporary president.
1) Raúl Blanco Cervantes [es]; 2) Carlos Sáenz Herrera 1962–1966 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Jorge Vega Rodríguez; 2) Virgilio Calvo Sánchez 1966–1970 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Manuel Aguilar Bonilla [es]; 2) Jorge Rossi Chavarría 1970–1974 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Carlos Manuel Castillo Morales [es]; 2) Fernando Guzmán Mata 1974–1978 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Rodrigo Altmann Ortiz; 2) José Miguel Alfaro Rodríguez 1978–1982 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Alberto Fait Lizano (resigned); 2) Armando Aráuz Aguilar 1982–1986 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón; 2) Victoria Garrón Orozco de Doryan 1986–1990 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Germán Serrano Pinto; 2) Arnoldo López Echandi 1990–1994 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Rodrigo Oreamuno Blanco; 2) Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis 1994–1998 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Astrid Fischel Volio; 2) Elizabeth Odio Benito 1998–2002 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Lineth Saborío Chaverri; 2) Luis Fishman Zonzinski 2002–2006 Lineth Saborío Chaverri served as temporary president. Luis Fishman Zonzinski did not formally take office as the second vice president.
1) Laura Chinchilla Miranda (resigned 2008); 2) Kevin Casas Zamora (resigned 2007) 2006–2010 Both served as temporary presidents. When both resigned, the President of the Legislative Assembly, Francisco Antonio Pacheco Fernández, stepped in as temporary president.
1) Alfio Piva Mesén; 2) Luis Liberman Ginsburg 2010–2014 Both served as temporary presidents.
1) Helio Fallas Venegas; 2) Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría 2014–2018 They were the first members of the Citizens' Action Party to be elected as Vice Presidents.
1) Epsy Campbell Barr; 2) Marvin Rodríguez Cordero 2018–2022 Epsy Campbell Barr was the first woman of African descent to be elected as Vice President.
1) Stephan Brunner; 2) Mary Munive 2022–2026 These are the current Vice Presidents.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vicepresidentes de Costa Rica para niños

  • List of current vice presidents
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