WUNRN
COSTA RICA: Ready for a Woman President
in 2010?
By Daniel Zueras
SAN JOSÉ, Oct 22 (IPS) - The announcement that former
Costa Rican Vice President Laura Chinchilla will seek election to the
presidency in 2010 indicates that the country "has matured and is
ready" to have a woman as head of state, according to some analysts.
Chinchilla, who has the support of President Óscar Arias,
stepped down as vice president and justice minister on Oct. 8 to compete in the
governing National Liberation Party’s (PLN) primary elections. By law, she had
to give up public office by January 2009 in order to be eligible to become a
presidential nominee.
Political observers say that her likely opponents within the
PLN are San José Mayor Johnny Araya, and former security minister Fernando
Berrocal, who has also resigned.
But Arias has already said that he would prefer to hand over
his presidential sash to a woman.
"The women’s movement is very critical of the PLN's
political and economic programme," so it will not support Chinchilla
"just because she is a woman; we have to examine where her commitments
lie," said Tita Torres, head of the Gender and Democracy programme of the
non-governmental organisation Alforja, which is part of the international
Social Watch network.
In contrast, Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) lawmaker
Ana Helena Chacón said Chinchilla's announcement was "wonderful,"
because "she has handled difficult jobs and has an impressive track
record."
It is unlikely that other political parties with a chance of
winning the presidential elections in 2010, such as the PUSC and the Citizens'
Action Party (PAC), will field women candidates.
"Epsy Campbell had prospects in the PAC, but they seem
to have sidelined her," said Chacón. "And the PUSC is dominated by an
ex-president who does not allow other people to operate," she added,
referring to Rafael Ángel Calderón (1990-1994), who is awaiting trial on
corruption charges, but intends to return to the political arena with renewed
strength.
The head of the National Women's Institute (INAMU),
Jeannette Carrillo, said the situation today differs from that of a decade ago,
when polls indicated that it was impossible for a woman to become president.
Now, "the country has matured, and is ready," she said.
In 1996 Costa Rica adopted a quota law making it obligatory
for political parties to include at least 40 percent of women candidates on
their electoral lists. As a result, 38 percent of seats in parliament are now
occupied by women lawmakers.
In Latin America, Costa Rica is in second place in terms of
the proportion of women in parliament, behind Argentina, where 40 percent of
the members of the lower house of Congress, and 39 percent of senators, are
women, according to the worldwide Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
In legislatures in the Americas as a whole, the average is
21.4 percent.
Before Costa Rica adopted the quota law, only 12 percent of
the members of parliament were women.
However, in other areas of government, the proportion of
women officials has fallen compared with the percentages achieved during the
administration of President Abel Pacheco (2002-2006).
During his term, 35 percent of ministers and 48 percent of
deputy ministers were women, compared to the current 28 and 37 percent,
respectively. And out of the 19 autonomous state institutions, three are presently
headed by women, compared to five during the Pacheco administration.
Carrillo told IPS that women have greater access to
decision-making posts in institutions involved in the social areas, "but
not in those related to infrastructure or the economy."
In private companies the pattern is similar: decision-making
positions are mainly held by men, and only 26 percent are in the hands of
women, although women make up more than 50 percent of the professional,
scientific and intellectual labour force.
Women are also usually paid less than men, even when they
are doing equivalent jobs. In some cases the gap remains very wide.
In contrast, the presence of women in the judicial branch
has increased. Women make up 27 percent of the total number of titular judges,
and 40 percent of substitute judges.
Furthermore, one of the three members of the Supreme
Electoral Tribunal is a woman, as are two of the four alternates.
================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com.
Thank you.