Presidenta Chinchilla Walks Among The People, Asks La Negrita For "Inspiration" To Face Criticism

On her knees presidenta Laura Chinchila ended her visit to Cartago on Wednesday, walking among thousands of 'romeros' from Tres Rios to the Basilica de los Angeles.




Doņa Chinchilla began her walk at 3:30pm and arriving in Cartago just before 8pm.

"It's a beautiful gesture of many Costa Ricans, who pray for their family, for the country, in a place where there is no more than prayer, reflection and respect," said the presidenta.

The presidenta also noted that "pilgrims are tidier, safer and cleaner than I have ever seen, because of the efforts of many public officials, and many volunteers who make possible this wonderful occasion."

On Thursday, the presidenta, along with her husband and son, gave her annual speech to the thousands gathered outside the Basilica gathered for the religious ceremony.

The presidenta asked La Negrita, the Virgen of los Angeles, "inspiration" to face the criticisms of her administration and to be able to carry out her duty as ruler, which she described as "the immense burden of responsibility placed on my shoulders".



The presidenta, in her speech following the morning mass, made an emotional appeal to the patron saint of Costa Rica to have the lucidity not to waver amid criticism of the citizens.

"Like many parishioners I too had my prayers to your incessant labours, not to fail to meet the many obstacles in my way, not to lose the 'north' of my conviction amid recriminations; to always accept with humiliy the reasoned and well-intentioned criticism", said doņa Laura.

Earlier this week, a poll by Unimer for the La Nacion, showed that more than half (53%) of Costa Ricans believe the presidenta is managing the country poorly.