President Luis Guillermo Solís, confirmed today Tuesday that he will attend the Saturday August 2, the Día de la Virgen de los Ángeles (Day of Our Lady of Angels), special mass to be held in Cartago, but ruled out participating in the annual pilgrimage during the days before.
The president said that although his family is devoted to the Virgen, he is not used to making the pilgrimage and will not be doing so while president.
“I didn’t as a citizen and nor will I as President,” said Solís when consulted by the press. The President added that it would be a “populist act” if h were to now make the trek to Cartago ,while he is in office, when he never did before.
More than a million pilgrims are expected to descend on the city of Cartago Friday August 1 and Saturday August 2.
I RESPECT his decision to stay AUTHENTIC!!!!!!!!!
It would be absurd for a sitting president to create the security risk. Costa Rica doesn’t have enough competent police officers to ensure the security of the president (and everyone around him) over such a long course. I thought that it was unwise for him to mix with the public during the World Cup post-game celebrations, even though that occurred in a much more confined space. There are too many crazies with guns for public figures to take such risks.