Q COSTARICA — “The only thing missing was appointing him as the national (soccer) team’s coach,” was the reaction of José María Villalta, the head of the Frente Amplio party’s legislative bloc, to the cabinet appointments made by President-elect Laura Fernández, which took place Tuesday morning, three days before the transfer of power.
Villalta described Fernández’s appointments as a “clear continuation,” with most positions from the outgoing government remaining. This included six ministers, ten executive presidencies, and several current high-ranking officials rotating through different roles.
Regarding this, Villalta stated that “it seems more designed to grant or maintain immunity to controversial politicians from the outgoing government than to improve the functioning of institutions.”
Villalta questioned the appointment of President Rodrigo Chaves as the next Minister of the Presidency (Chief of Stadd), with additional responsibilities as Minister of Finance, stating that while he finds it interesting, the person holding the position must coordinate with the other branches of government, which in his opinion will be “difficult” because Chaves is “someone who has dedicated himself to inflaming relations with the other branches of government.”
Villalta therefore considers the appointment as a renunciation of dialogue by the incoming government.
Villalta, who leads the seven legislative members of the opposition, added that he foresees complicated times ahead and won’t even be 24 hours before Chaves’s “first affront with the President.”
“When you (Laura Fernández) get fed up with this situation, we will always be here, ready to seek dialogue… that will always be our priority,” Villalta told the President-elect.