Four Years Came And Went
At noon yesterday, Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, ended his four year term as president and joined the ranks of an ordinary citizen. Releived and satisfied, Pacheco left the podium yesterday to get back to his life, a life that will be filled with time to enjoy his grandchildren and reflection.

Shortly after 11am yesterday, Pacheco, accompanied by his wife, Leyla Rodríguez, boarded his personal vehicle and made his way to the Estadio Nacional to hand over the reigns to the presidency to Oscar Arias.

At 12:20pm, Pacheco was not longer president.

Earlier in the morning he came out of his home to answer reporter questions. He was candid with his answers, saying that he is leaving office with a clear conscience of having done his best for the Costa Rican people and though his administatrion had had some shortcomings, the country is in better shape today than it was four years ago.

Asked about his thoughts on the recent polls that gave him poor marks for his performance, Don Abel, reminded the reporters who wrong the pollsters were on February 5.

The polls had called for a landslide Arias victory when in fact the new president only won the election by a margin of 18.000 votes of over rival Ottón Solís and took the Tribubal Supremo de Elecciones a month to declare an official winner.

Pacheco left his home as "el presidente" and returned several hours later as Don Abel. Asked how he felt, he said "Thanks to God, I feel good, content and happy".

"I want to thank all the Costa Ricans for all the love and affection they have given me over the last four years", said Don Abel. "Although I would have like to have the Plan Fiscal approved, it didn't happen, I did what I could, I leave happy", added Pacheco.

"May God be with you" were the words of Don Abel to president Arias. "You must have patience, Costa Ricans are noble, but you have to handle them with silk gloves", were the parting words of wisdom from one leader to the next.