Costa Rican President-Elect to Present Plans for New Era

President-elect Luis Guillermo Solis, whose landslide victory crushed Costa Rica's traditional two-party system, faced huge expectations Monday as he set about putting in place a new government that reflects his promise of change.

With a record of more than 1.3 million votes, or 78 percent of the ballots cast in Sunday's run-off election, the 55-year-old became the first third-party candidate in more than half a century to win the top post.

"Costa Rica has decided to change," Solis told ecstatic supporters in his victory speech on a packed square in the capital San Jose.

"As president, I intend to carry out that change."

Solis is a member of the centrist Citizen Action Party (PAC) founded 13 years ago to challenge an entrenched two-party system that saw the social democratic National Liberation Party (PLN) and the conservative Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) swap power between them.

His sole rival, PLN candidate Johnny Araya, dropped out of the race a month ago when it became clear he stood no chance of winning. His name remained on the ballot, however, and he picked up 22 percent.

Solis, a little known academic and historian, came out of last place in the polls to win the first round of balloting on February 2, staggering the political establishment in this Central American country of five million.

He was expected to unveil his plans for a new government at a news conference later in the day.

Topping his list of priorities: battling corruption, promoting more equitable economic development and incorporating citizens into the political decision-making process.

Set to start his four-year term on May 8, Solis takes over from outgoing President Laura Chinchilla of the PLN, the country's first female head of state whose government was shaken by corruption scandals.

He inherits a country with a fiscal deficit of six percent, national debt totaling 60 percent of GDP and growing social inequality.

He also faces a Congress that has never been as divided.

"Governing is going to be very difficult due a highly fragmented legislature," said analyst Constantino Urcuyo.

"Luis Guillermo will have to demonstrate he has a conciliatory nature and knack for calm dialogue."

For economist Carlos Arguedas, fighting the fiscal deficit and promoting a fair distribution of wealth will be the main challenges.

"The most important issue is the inequality that generates social anger," he said.

In his victory speech, Solis proclaimed: "We want a future that perfectly combines the need to grow, makes the economy the best it can be and promotes prosperity and wealth within a framework of equity and justice."

Solis has a solid academic background and holds a history degree from the University of Costa Rica, as well as a Master's in political science and sociology from Tulane University in the United States.

He made a name for himself as a researcher at FLACSO, a renowned Latin American social sciences institute and as a program director at the University of Costa Rica.

But his political experience also dates back.

Between 1986 and 1990, he served as chief of staff in Costa Ria's foreign ministry, where he worked on the design and promotion of the Central American peace plan for which former president Oscar Arias Sanchez won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize.

He also was secretary general of the PLN in the early 2000s, but quit in 2005 in disgust over corruption and the party's embrace of neoliberal policies.

Solis, who is married for the second time to a Spanish woman, is the father of six children.