Costa Rica Perfil Gobierno 2019

nombre: San Jose

coordenadas geográficas: 9 56 N, 84 05 W

diferencia de tiempo: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

15 Septiembre 1821 (from Spain)

Día de la Independencia, 15 Septiembre (1821)

history: many previous; latest efectiva 8 Noviembre 1949

amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly; modificada many times, last in 2015 (2018)

18 años de edad; universal y obligatorio

jefe de estado: Presidente Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (desde 8 May 2018); First Vice Presidente Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (desde 8 May 2018); Second Vice Presidente Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (desde 8 May 2018); note - the president is both jefe de estado and jefe de gobierno

jefe de gobierno: Presidente Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (desde 8 May 2018); First Vice Presidente Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (desde 8 May 2018); Second Vice Presidente Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (desde 8 May 2018)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); election last held on 4 February 2018 with a runoff on 1 April 2018 (next to be held in February 2022)

election results: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%