The election of Carlos Ricardo Benavides as the new president of the Legislative Assembly for the period 2019-2020 went smoothly this Wednesday, May 1, obtaining 40 of the 57 votes thanks to a multi-party agreement between the PLN, PAC and RN.
Meanwhile, contender Erwen Masís of the PUSC obtained only 16 votes. José María Villalta of the Frente Amplio, was the third candidate seeking the leadership of the legislature obtained one vote.
The legislators themselves hope that with the election of Benavides, the Legislative Assembly will find the necessary consensus for the advancement of priority projects for Costa Rica.
“It is very important for Congress, (Benavides) is a man of much experience,” said Carlos Avendaño, head of the Restauración Nacional party.
“Carlos Ricardo is a dialogue facilitator, because he has shown willingness to listen to differences and manage them,” adds PAC legislator Laura Guido.
“We stressed that we wanted a social democratic agenda, a more social agenda and one that seeks economic reactivation, the generation of employment and the fight against poverty; because the previous year was a monothematic agenda focused on taxes,” said legislator Franggi Nicolás.
Doña Esther Jiménez, who traveled from Puntarenas, could not hold back her happiness and pride to see her son elected to lead the legislature for the coming year.
“Since childhood he has been involved in politics. I’ve seen him grow in politics and I’m sure he will do a good job,” she said. “He loves coming to Puntarenas and that I make him breakfast. He cannot miss my papaya juice and enjoys meeting his friends,” she added.
The mother of the new presi said that they constantly talk, either by phone or by messages and admits that they do not see eye to eye on some (political) issues.
Benavides’ wife, Juliana Sibaja, also was present to support her husband. “Today (Wednesday) was a different and busy morning (for us) because we had to dress up and with Andrés (the 3-year-old son), you have to run a lot,” she said.
Sibaja was satisfied with the election of her husband and is confident that he will be able to fulfill the task entrusted to him in a good way, since she says he has the capacity and experience to do so.
On hand for the ceremony was Benavides’ half brother, Mauricio Astorga, actor and comedian. Few were aware for the parentage until today. Both are sons of Doña Jiménez, but of different fathers.
Asked which of his characters would most enjoy being in the halls of country’s legislature, Astorga replied:”Definitely Armando la Plancheta, yes sir. I would straighten them out, many here need some adjustments and I would love it, yes sir. A few good little rules to straighten out more than one.”
