President Signs Decree Banning His Name on Public Works

COSTA RICA NEWS – Costa Rica’s newly elected president has passed a decree banning his name being put on plaques at public works.

Luis Guillermo Solis also said he did not want his portrait hung in public offices, which was until now a common practice.

“The worship of the image of the president is over, at least under my government,” Solis said. The president told reporters he thought having his name on plaques marking the inauguration of construction projects such as bridges and roads gave people the wrong idea.

“The works are from the country and not from a government or a particular official,” he told reporters after signing the decree.

For the period of 2014-2018, commemorative plaques will only bear the year the project was inaugurated rather than the name of the administration, which would have been “Administración Solís-Rivera”, if the tradition was continued.

The decree is in effect until May 8, 2018, the end of Solís’ term in office.