Abel Pacheco
Encyclopedia
Abel Pacheco de la Espriella (born 22 December 1933, in San José
) was president of Costa Rica
between 2002 and 2006, representing the Social Christian Unity Party
(Partido Unidad Social Cristiana – PUSC). He ran on a platform to continue free market reforms and to institute an austerity program, and was elected, in a second electoral round, with 58% of the vote in April 2002.
He was the sixth child of a banana farmer. Part of his childhood was spent in the province of Limón
on the Caribbean coast, but he returned to the capital to complete his secondary education. He then went on, aided by scholarships he had won, to study medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
in Mexico City
and psychiatry at Louisiana State University
in the United States
.
During this time period, Pacheco participated in a counter-revolution attempt mounted from Nicaragua in 1955, led by former president Rafael Calderón
. He drove an armored car with a mounted machine gun. This failed invasion was an attempt on overthrowing the government of José Figueres
(1953–1958). The invasion, backed-up by Nicaragua's leader, Anastasio Somoza García
, was condemned by the OAS
and the international community. Costa Rica, having disbanded its formal army in 1949, set up a hastily prepared national force that repelled the invasion stopping the Calderón forces in the Hacienda Santa Rosa in northern Guanacaste.
During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s Pacheco was a popular presenter of short programmes on Costa Rican television. During this time he continued to teach at the University of Costa Rica
and personally attended to customers at the gentleman's outfitters, El Palacio del Pantalón, that he had established in downtown San José in the mid-1980s. He also wrote a series of novels and a number of popular songs.
On 1 February 1998 he was elected to serve as a party-list deputy in Costa Rica's unicameral Legislative Assembly
, representing the province of San José for the PUSC.
In the run-up to the 2002 presidential election, the PUSC party convention selected him to be its candidate by an overwhelming 76% of the delegates' votes on 10 June 2001. His candidacy was seen as a victory for the rank-and-file members over the party's entrenched hierarchy.
In the first round of the election Pacheco received 38.6% of the vote: just short of the 40% needed to avoid a run-off. On 7 April 2002, in the second round – the first time the mechanism had been used since the rules were introduced – Pacheco got 58% of the vote, beating Rolando Araya
of the social democratic PLN by a narrow margin.
Pacheco is sometimes dubbed "Pa'l techo" (to the roof), a joking expression which in Costa Rica means little bit crazy, for his extravagancy and his populist way of express himself.
In a book written by self-proclaimed Christian
Prophet Cindy Jacobs, she prophecized that Abel Pacheco would become president while he was in a wheelchair, crippled. She has retold this tale many times publicly. Abel, when asked about this, respectfully denied "with a hearty laugh".
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
) was president of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
between 2002 and 2006, representing the Social Christian Unity Party
Social Christian Unity Party
The Social Christian Unity Party is a political party in Costa Rica.PUSC considers itself a Christian Democratic Party and, as such, is a member of the Centrist Democrat International.-2002 election:...
(Partido Unidad Social Cristiana – PUSC). He ran on a platform to continue free market reforms and to institute an austerity program, and was elected, in a second electoral round, with 58% of the vote in April 2002.
He was the sixth child of a banana farmer. Part of his childhood was spent in the province of Limón
Limón
Puerto Limón, commonly known as Limón , is the capital city and main hub of Limón province, as well as of the cantón of Limón in Costa Rica. It has a population of about 60,000 , and is home to a thriving Afro-Caribbean community...
on the Caribbean coast, but he returned to the capital to complete his secondary education. He then went on, aided by scholarships he had won, to study medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and psychiatry at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
During this time period, Pacheco participated in a counter-revolution attempt mounted from Nicaragua in 1955, led by former president Rafael Calderón
Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia
Rafael Ángel del Socorro Calderón Guardia was the president of Costa Rica from 1940 to 1944.-Early life:Calderón was born on 10 March 1900 in San José. In his youth, Calderón studied in Costa Rica and Belgium, where he married Yvonne Clays Spoelders, who was later to be the first female diplomat of...
. He drove an armored car with a mounted machine gun. This failed invasion was an attempt on overthrowing the government of José Figueres
José Figueres Ferrer
José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer , served as President of Costa Rica on three occasions:1948–1949, 1953–1958, and 1970–1974....
(1953–1958). The invasion, backed-up by Nicaragua's leader, Anastasio Somoza García
Anastasio Somoza García
Anastasio Somoza García was officially the President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1937 to 1 May 1947 and from 21 May 1950 to 29 September 1956, but ruled effectively as dictator from 1936 until his assassination.-Biography:Somoza was born in San Marcos, Carazo Department in Nicaragua, the son of...
, was condemned by the OAS
OAS
OAS or Oas may refer to:* Organization of American States, an international organization of the Americas.* Ohio Auction School, an auction school in Ohio, USA.* Old Age Security, a social security payment available to most Canadians aged 65 or older....
and the international community. Costa Rica, having disbanded its formal army in 1949, set up a hastily prepared national force that repelled the invasion stopping the Calderón forces in the Hacienda Santa Rosa in northern Guanacaste.
During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s Pacheco was a popular presenter of short programmes on Costa Rican television. During this time he continued to teach at the University of Costa Rica
University of Costa Rica
The University of Costa Rica is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro, in the province of San José. It is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious institution of higher learning in...
and personally attended to customers at the gentleman's outfitters, El Palacio del Pantalón, that he had established in downtown San José in the mid-1980s. He also wrote a series of novels and a number of popular songs.
On 1 February 1998 he was elected to serve as a party-list deputy in Costa Rica's unicameral Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
The Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Costa Rica. The national congress building is located in the city capital, San José, specifically in El Carmen District in San José Canton.-Composition:...
, representing the province of San José for the PUSC.
In the run-up to the 2002 presidential election, the PUSC party convention selected him to be its candidate by an overwhelming 76% of the delegates' votes on 10 June 2001. His candidacy was seen as a victory for the rank-and-file members over the party's entrenched hierarchy.
In the first round of the election Pacheco received 38.6% of the vote: just short of the 40% needed to avoid a run-off. On 7 April 2002, in the second round – the first time the mechanism had been used since the rules were introduced – Pacheco got 58% of the vote, beating Rolando Araya
Rolando Araya Monge
Rolando Araya Monge is a Costa Rican socialist politician. He is a nephew of former president Luis Alberto Monge.- Biography :...
of the social democratic PLN by a narrow margin.
Pacheco is sometimes dubbed "Pa'l techo" (to the roof), a joking expression which in Costa Rica means little bit crazy, for his extravagancy and his populist way of express himself.
Books
Pacheco de la Espriella is the author of a number of books, including both, fiction and non-fiction. Among other titles of the books that he penned are: Paso de tropa (1969), and Más abajo de la piel (1972).In a book written by self-proclaimed Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
Prophet Cindy Jacobs, she prophecized that Abel Pacheco would become president while he was in a wheelchair, crippled. She has retold this tale many times publicly. Abel, when asked about this, respectfully denied "with a hearty laugh".