Presidents of Costa Rica

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JOSE FIGUERES FERRER

[1906-1990]. Was born on September 25th in San Ramón, after his parents (father: doctor Mariano Figueres Forges and mother: a teacher Paquita Ferrera Minguella) escaped to there from Spain. Known better as Don Pepe. An economist, politic and philosopher. Three times president of the country (1948-1949), (1954-1958), (1970-1974). In 1948 headed the revolutionary movement of National Liberation. By many people is considered to be the biggest politic in country history.

As a child was interested in math and physic. Attended the seminary in San Jose and later continued learning by correspondence in the International School in Scranton (Pensilvania). After that left for Boston, where attended the engineering course. During his study worked in Tea Company and as a translator.

On coming back in 1928, he bought a piece of ground in the Terrazu Upland, (to the south of Cartago and built La Lucha sin Fin farm ("the fight till the end"). On July 8th of 1942 led the broadscast against the Calderon rulings, due to which he was pressed to leave for few month for Mexico. On coming back in 1944 set up the Democratic Party, that a year later transformed into Social-Democratic Party. He blamed and critisized Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia for corruptions and embezzlement. In 1947 in his farm began training his own troops in order to abolish the undemocratic government.
  
Took the occasion in 1948, when a supporter of Calderon Guardia, president Teodor Picado Michalski didn`t want to hand over a power for new chosen president Otilio Ulate Blanco. After five weeks long national war, Ferrer for 18 monthes was a member of Junta Fundadora, abolished the army, gave the suffrage for women and Blacks, and also introduced the Electoral Tribunal that took control over the ellections.  

He was known of being against alcohol. In his terms, on official meetings, he never allowed to serve the liquors. They were being replaced by coffee, tea or water. Some of ambassador or his ministers tried to hide the liquors in jackets and cases. They drank them secretely avoiding of approaching to president. Figueres got famous by his decision that during the appointing the Junta in 1948 the toasts were drunk not by shampagne but by... water. As an explanation he said that shampagne costed too much and the country can`t afford for that.

During his second term he created the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE), nationalized banks, set up back the tranways in San Jose, introduced the Tourist Board (ICT), and a seat of Minister of Culture, Youths and Sport.

The third term was characterized by closer relations with comunist countries. In San Jose was opened the CCCR embassy. The diplomatic relations with has come into with GDR. The official visit paid the president of Romania Nicolas Ceausescu. Figuerres introduced the amendment to the constitution according to which the Comunist Party was allowed to participate in ellections. In 1973 Costa Rica signed the diplomatic relations with Cuba. It drew to spread the gossip about alleged anticomunist intervention from Guatemala.