Q COSTARICA — In a video, former President Carlos Alvarado (2018-2022) apologized to all of Costa Rica for bringing Rodrigo Chaves to the country and appointing him as Minister of Finance in November 2019.
He also called Chaves a liar for stating this Wednesday that he is saving his presidential pension to collect it later.
Even before leaving office, Alvarado had stated that he would not collect his pension.
“I faced a very difficult time in which very tough decisions had to be made. I believe many did good for the country; I made mistakes in others, but if I made a mistake in anything, it was bringing you to the country, and for that I apologize to all Costa Ricans for that error I made. I take responsibility. Your greatest talent is being a great liar,” Alvarado said.
Por medio de un video, el expresidente Carlos Alvarado pidió disculpas a toda Costa Rica “por haber traído” al país a Rodrigo Chaves y nombrarlo como ministro de Hacienda en noviembre de 2019, a la vez que lo llamó mentiroso. pic.twitter.com/wsp9pFV7KV
— Esteban Arrieta (@estarrar) January 9, 2026
Chaves, who worked for the World Bank before returning to Costa Rica after being abroad for more than 30 years, was dismissed by Alvarado from his position as Minister of Finance just six months after taking office.
The former president’s remarks come three weeks before the elections, in which Claudia Dobles, former first lady and Alvarado’s wife, is the candidate for the Coalición Agenda Ciudadana.
Dobles is going up against 19 other candidates, including Laura Fernandez, of the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO), who has found herself at the center of a growing controversy as critics increasingly portray her as a puppet of President Rodrigo Chaves.
“Today, education is worse, the Social Security System is in dire straits, and security is at rock bottom; drug trafficking has infiltrated the entire country with its money, with homicides, with insecurity. And what is your response? You don’t respond; you shift blame.
“When you’re a former president, you go out into the street, without bodyguards carrying high-caliber weapons, and answer directly to the Costa Rican people; some thank you, and others don’t like you. But that’s what you have to do when you’re a former president, not hide behind immunity or make excuses. You are a big liar,” Alvarado concluded.