Pacheco Says
Laura Chinchilla
Is Honest But
Ill-Advised
Former president
of Costa Rica,
Abel Pacheco, in
analyzing the
first days of
the
administration
of Laura
Chinchilla, says
"doña Laura is
honest, but she
is ill-advised".
Speaking to the
daily La
Republica,
Pacheco hopes
that the
presidenta will
find her path,
can meet her
agenda on
security,
economy and
ecology.
Reporters
Natasha
Cambronero and
Esteban Arrieta,
who interviewed
the former
president, write
that Pacheco's
face looks more
relaxed after
leaving the
presidency fours
years ago and
the health
problems that
plagued him as
he led the
country are a
thing of the
past and is now
enjoying peace,
his family and
continues his
work as a
psychiatrist.
During the
interview, which
took place in
his home in
Rohrmoser, the
former president
offered his
opinion on the
issues of the
day, like the
attempted raise
in salaires by
legislators, the
departure of
Bruno Stagno,
the Arias legacy
and the economy.
Pacheco said
that the
legislators got
carried away,
that maybe a 15%
salary hike
would have been
more appropriate
that the 60%
proposed.
However, Costa
Ricans are "a
noble people"
and will forget
this.
With respect to
presidenta
Laura, Pacheco
said doña Laura
is a good woman,
very well
intentioned; but
it would be
better if her
image was more
"maternal",
quiet and very
serene.
"I don't
understand how
the presidenta
can be seen
dancing in a
short skirt and
boots or cooking
a paella on
national
television. She
is a fine lady
and I ask God to
enlighten her
not to do things
like that,
because they can
cost her and the
country dearly",
said Pacheco.
The former
president feels
that letting
Bruno Stagno go
from the
government was a
terrible
mistake. Stagno
resigned and
Chinchilla
accepted, when
it was
discovered that
the former
foreign minister
had appointed
himself to the
UN
ambassadorship
for Costa Rica.
Pacheco also
feels that the
with patience
and calm and
with good
adivsors and
thining things
through,
Chinchilla could
lead a good
government.
"Costa Ricans do
not like things
fast", said
Pacheco.
Asked of his
opinion on the
state of the
economy left
behind by Oscar
Arias,
especially since
Pacheco handed
over the money
chest full to
his predecessor,
he responded "it
is easy to spend
what is not ones
own, but the
consequences are
terrible. We're
still not paying
the bill, but
just wait and
see".
Asked about the
retirement of
Rafael Angel
Calderón from
politics,
Pacheco said he
really didn't
have much to say
on the subject,
other than the
"old leaders"
should give way
to the young.
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