New Costa Rican ministers sworn in

Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco on Monday swore in new ministers in charge of presidency, transport and finance following a series of resignations over the past two weeks.

Former manager of the National Stock Exchange, Federico Carrillo Zurcher, replaced Alberto Dent, who resigned as finance minister due to differences over the government's decision to givean additional 0.5 percent wage-increase to public employees.

Ovidio Pacheco, the current Labor Minister, replaced Javier Chaves, who resigned last Thursday as the Minister of Public Works and Transport.

Vice President Lineth Saborio was appointed as Minister of the Presidency,in replacement of Ricardo Toledo who also resigned.

On Sunday, the national radio quoted Pacheco as saying that there is no "crisis" in his cabinet, as mentioned by the media, analysts and opposition parliamentarians.

In addition to the aforementioned officials, Coordinator of theEconomic Council Ronulfo Jimenez and Vice Minister of Finance Silena Alvarado also resigned.

Other officials who resigned were the country's chief negotiator of the free trade agreement (FTA), Anabel Gonzalez, andDirector of the National Highway Patrol, Ignacio Sanchez. None of these posts has been filled by now.

The resignations came after the government and public employeesreached agreement on a salary increase of 4.5 to 5 percent for thesecond half of the year.

Source: Xinhua