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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 5 april 2022
Ex-finance minister wins runoff to be Costa Rica’s president

By JAVIER CÓRDOBA about physical appear-
Associated Press ance, repeated sexual in-
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) nuendo and unwelcome
— A former finance minis- sexual advances toward
ter who surprised many by multiple bank employees.
making it into Costa Rica’s Those details were repeat-
presidential runoff has eas- ed by the bank’s human
ily won the election and resources department in
is to become the Central a letter to Chaves, but it
American country’s new decided to sanction him
leader next month while still for misconduct rather than
fending off accusations of sexual harassment.
sexual harassment when he “The facts of the pres-
worked at the World Bank. ent case indicate that
With nearly all polling sta- (Chaves’) conduct was
tions reporting late Sunday, sexual in nature and that
conservative economist he knew or should have
Rodrigo Chaves had 53% known that his conduct
of the vote, compared to was unwelcome,” the tribu-
47% for former President nal wrote. The tribunal also
José Figueres Ferrer, the noted that in the proceed-
Supreme Electoral Tribunal ings, the bank’s current
said. More than 42% of eli- vice president for human
gible voters did not partici- Costa Rica’s former finance minister Rodrigo Chaves speaks to supporters at his headquarters in resources said in testimony
pate, an unusually low turn- San Jose, Costa Rica, after winning a presidential runoff election, Sunday, April 3, 2022. “that the undisputed facts
Associated Press
out for the country, reflect- legally amount to sexual
ing the lack of enthusiasm for May 8. Figueres con- tional Liberation Party like World Bank. harassment.”
Costa Ricans had for the ceded defeat less than an his father, three-time presi- While working at the bank, Political analyst Francisco
candidates. hour after results began to dent José Figueres Ferrer. he was accused of sexual Barahona said Costa Ri-
In his victory speech, come in. He had led the Chaves served briefly in the harassment by multiple cans’ lack of enthusiasm,
Chaves called for unity to first round of voting Feb. 6, administration of outgoing women, was eventually de- as shown by the low turn-
address problems like un- with Chaves in second that President Carlos Alvarado moted and then resigned. out, was the result of the
employment and a soaring day. Neither had come and represents the Social He has denied the accusa- many personal attacks
budget deficit. close to the 40% of the vote Democratic Progress Party. tions. that characterized the
“For me this is not a medal needed to avoid a runoff. Both men waged a bruising The World Bank’s admin- campaign.“In the debates
nor a trophy, but rather an Figueres congratulated campaign. istrative tribunal last year they only heated things up
enormous responsibility, Chaves and wished him the Chaves’ campaign is un- criticized the way the case in personal confrontations,
heaped with challenges best, adding that continues der investigation by elec- was initially handled inter- mistreatment of each oth-
and difficulties that we will to believe that Costa Rica toral authorities for alleged- nally. er,” he said. “They didn’t
all resolve,” he said. is in a “deep crisis” and he ly running an illegal parallel The tribunal noted that an add depth to their propos-
“Costa Rica, the best is to is willing to help it recover. financing structure. He also internal investigation found als to resolve the country’s
come!” Chaves said before Figueres, who was Costa has been dogged by a that from 2008 to 2013 problems. The debates
celebrating supporters. His Rica’s president from 1994 sexual harassment scandal Chaves leered at, made didn’t help to motivate the
inauguration is scheduled to 1998, represents the Na- that drove him out of the unwelcome comments electorate.”q

Bolivia: Chile is hampering efforts to resolve river dispute

By MIKE CORDER important world resource. over artificial channels and for litigation between the es that his country “finds
Associated Press Chile filed the case in 2016, the waters of the Silala that two countries.” no reason to justify Chile’s
THE HAGUE, Netherlands asking the world court to they carry. Bolivia’s ambassador to claim over the waters of the
(AP) — Lawyers for Bolivia rule on the nature of the Lawyer Mathias Forteau the Netherlands told judg- Silala before this court.”q
said Monday that Chile’s Silala River and use of its told judges at the Hague-
decision to file a case at the waters. At hearings Friday, based court that Chile’s
United Nations’ top court Chile’s Vice-Minister for For- “hasty and unilateral” deci-
about a dispute about a eign Affairs Ximena Fuentes sion to file a case reduced
river that crosses their bor- Torrijo told judges that the the chances of a diplo-
der in the Atacama Desert dispute offered the court matic solution between the
has hampered diplomatic “an opportunity to affirm two countries.
efforts to resolve the dis- the applicability of the ba- “Chile seems to have
agreement. sic principle of reasonable brought the case before
The case between the Latin and equitable utilization in the court primarily for pre-
American neighbors at the these times of increasing ventive purposes” after Bo-
International Court of Jus- fresh water scarcity.” livia had suggested it might
tice is focused on a small The two nations say they start legal proceedings
water system but is seen as have narrowed the scope over the river, Forteau said.
an opportunity to lay down of their disagreement since “Ultimately what this these
important jurisprudence at Chile filed the case. Bolivia proceedings show that if Exterior view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International
a time when fresh water is has filed counterclaims ar- there is a need at all it’s just Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands,
becoming an increasingly guing it has sovereignty need for cooperation, not Monday, Feb. 18, 2019.
Associated Press