Q COSTARICA — Only one former president, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, has confirmed his attendance at the transfer of powers next week. At this time, of the other seven, four have said they will sit this one out, and the others are unlikely to participate.
Rafael Ángel Calderón (1990-1994), Abel Pacheco (2002-2006), Luis Guillermo Solís (2014-2018), and Carlos Alvarado (2018-2022) have already announced they will not participate in the official ceremony convened by the Protocol Department of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica on April 23.
“We will not attend. The president-elect clearly stated that she did not want the former presidents there, so we respect her decision,” Calderón told La Nacion.
“Due to work commitments abroad, I have excused myself from participating in the transfer of power ceremony. I appreciate the invitation. I take this opportunity to wish President Laura Fernández every success. May everything go well for Ms. Laura and for our Costa Rica,” Alvarado wrote in X.
Solís’s decision is linked to statements attributed to the president-elect related to the handling of invitations, which generated interpretations about possible exclusions.
Fernández previously stated that she had no reason to extend a special invitation to the former presidents.
“Although fully aware of the significance of the ceremony and sharing its meaning, the statements to the media by President-elect Laura Fernández, to the effect that she would not invite the former presidents of the invitations extended to the ceremony, fuel an unfortunate polarization that undermines the spirit of concord that should characterize this solemn event. This, coupled with the fact that it would damage the country’s image before the distinguished invited delegations, is why, on behalf of my partner, former First Lady Mercedes Peñas, and myself, we decline the invitation that was extended to us so kindly,” Solís stated.
Abel Pacheco indicated that his absence is due to his age.
“I’m not going to attend. There isn’t just one reason, there are 92. I’m 92 years old now, and I don’t leave the house anymore. I wish our president the best of luck, my best wishes, but I no longer have any social or political activities,” Abel Pacehco stated.
Former two-time president Óscar Arias indicated that he will not attend because he considers the presence of former presidents to be unusual.
“I believe that is not a tradition, it is not a custom in Costa Rica,” Arias stated.
Likewise, it is unlikely that José María Figueres and Laura Chinchilla will participate, since they were criticized on several occasions by the outgoing president, Rodrigo Chaves, during his term.
Neither Figueres nor Chinchilla has given a public response to media outlets.
On Friday, May 8, Laura Fernández will be sworn in as the 50th president in Costa Rican history. The transfer of power that will take place at the National Stadium, starting at 11:00 a.m. is open to any Costa Rican who wishes to attend.
If you wish to attend, you must request your ticket in advance, as otherwise you will not be able to participate in this “democratic celebration.” To do so, you must visit kuikpei.com. You will only be able to purchase up to three tickets.