LAURA CHINCHILLA, president-elect of Costa Rica. - photo: Wikipedia

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Feb. 8 — Laura Chinchilla, candidate of current President Oscar Arias Liberacion Nacional Party (PLN), won the presidential elections in Costa Rica on the first round on Sunday, reported the Cuban press.

When she takes office, Chinchilla will become the Central American country’s first ever female head of state.

The 50-year-old politician was one of Arias’s two vice presidents and held the post of minister of Justice.

With just over 90% of the ballots counted, Chinchilla had 46.75% of the vote to 25% of her closest contender Otton Solis and 21% to Otto Guevara.

Costa Rican electoral law stipulates that to win the elections on the first round the leading candidate must have at least 40% of the vote, far surpassed by Chinchilla.