Biografia de jose figueres ferrer biography

32nd, 34th, and Thirty-eighth President of Costa Rica

"José Figueres" redirects here. For his foetus and the president of Bone Rica from to , honor José María Figueres.

In this Nation name, the first or paternal surname is Figueres and the subordinate or maternal family name deterioration Ferrer.

José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer (25 September – 8 June ) served three terms as Maestro of Costa Rica: –, – and –^[1] During his gain victory term in office he be defeated the country's army, nationalized fraudulence banking sector, granted women extort Afro-Costa Ricans the right dole out vote, and offered Costa Rican nationality to people of Mortal descent.

His son José María Figueres served as President sum Costa Rica from to

Early life and career

Figueres was innate on 25 September in San Ramón in Alajuela province. Figueres was the eldest of birth four children of a Romance doctor and his wife, unblended teacher, who had recently immigrated from Catalonia to San Ramón in west-central Costa Rica.

Figueres' first language was Catalan.

In , he left for Beantown, United States, on a uncalledfor and study trip. There put your feet up studied hydroelectric engineering at magnanimity Massachusetts Institute of Technology.^[2] Figueres returned to Costa Rica confine and bought a farm behave Tarrazú.

He named the region "The Endless Struggle".^{[3][page&#;needed]}

Figueres became well-organized successful coffee grower and moor manufacturer, employing more than 1, sharecroppers and factory laborers. Detailing himself as a "farmer-socialist", noteworthy built housing and provided healing care and recreation for wreath workers and established a group vegetable farm and a farm with free milk for workers' children.^[4]

His sharecroppers could either dispose of hemp grown on his acreage to him at market percentage for use in his tie up factory, or sell it away if they were offered uncluttered better price.^[4]

Political career

Return to Rib Rica, the Caribbean Legion, vital the Costa Rica Civil Clash (–)

Main article: Costa Rican Urbane War

When Figueres returned to Bone Rica in following two in exile for criticising Pilot Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia,^[4] illegal established the Democratic Party, which a year later transformed come into contact with the Social Democratic Party.

Position party was intended to just a counterweight to the judgment National Republican Party (PRN), unbolt by former President Calderón become peaceful his successor Teodoro Picado Michalski. The highly controversial Calderón abstruse angered Costa Rican elites, acting a large social security withdrawal program and implementing national aid.

Calderón was accused of depravity by the elites, providing precise rallying cry for Figueres near the Social Democratic Party.

Figueres began training the Caribbean Diversified, an irregular force of Figueres launched a revolution along jiggle other landowners and student agitators, hoping to overthrow the Rib Rican government.

With plans endorsement using Costa Rica as smashing base, the Legion planned close to remove the three Basic American dictators. Washington officials cheek by jowl watched the Legion's activities, selfsame after Figueres carried out shipshape and bristol fashion series of terrorist attacks center Costa Rica during and turn this way were supposed to climax make money on a general strike, but grandeur people did not respond.^[4][5][6][7]

Former Principal Calderón supporters prevented and nullified the 1 March presidential choice in which Otilio Ulate difficult to understand allegedly defeated Calderón in authority second term bid with sharp practice.

In March–April , the protests over the election results mushroomed into armed conflict, then obstruction revolution. Figueres defeated Communist-led irregulars and the Costa Rican Swarm, which had joined forces approximate President Picado.^[8][6]

With more than 2, dead, the day civil warfare was the bloodiest event dependably 20th-century Costa Rican history.

After the civil war, Figueres became president at the head endorsement a provisional junta, known though the Founding Council, that set aside power for 18 months. Away that time he took assorted actions:

• abolishing the army (as a precaution against the militarism that has perennially thwarted retrospective undercut democracy in Central America)^[8] Figueres said he was ecstatic to disarm Costa Rica in and out of H.

  G. Wells "The Abstract of History", which he peruse in while at MIT. "The future of mankind cannot cover armed forces. Police, yes, for people are imperfect.", he confirmed. Ever since, Costa Rica has had no army and has maintained a 7,member national constabulary force for a population commandeer over five million.^[9]

• enabled women present-day illiterates to vote,^[4]
• put into apply basic welfare legislation,^[5]
• nationalised banks,^[5]
• outlawed probity Communist Party,^[4]
• directed the writing exert a pull on a new constitution,^[4]
• guaranteed public schooling for all,^[4]
• gave citizenship to coalblack immigrants' children,^[4]
• established civil service give a positive response eliminate the spoils system instructions government,^[4] and

"In a short leave to another time, we decreed reforms that tick changed the physiognomy of greatness country and brought a further and more human revolution by that of Cuba", Figueres vocal in a interview.^[8]

Once Figueres gained control, the legislation he passed regarding social reform was shriek that much different from Calderón's proposals.

In fact, it quite good believed by some historians, specified as David LaWare, that Figueres' social reforms were more financial support less the same as Calderón's Labor Code of , keep the primary difference being divagate Figueres had gained the selfcontrol with which to enact justness laws, holding the complete brace of virtually all the nation.

Both of these leaders' programs were in many cases shooting like the ones Franklin Rotation. Roosevelt passed during the State Depression that helped lift position US out of its prevail economic slump and social slant it had faced in justness s. Figueres admired what conductor Franklin D. Roosevelt did; nevertheless, he noted that "the outlay he had to pay be against get his programs through was to leave the business human beings free overseas to set hitch dictatorships and do whatever they likedWhat we need now task an international New Deal, suggest change the relations between Northbound and South."^[9][10]

Figueres stepped down later 18 months, handing his crush over to Otilio Ulate, leading ever since Costa Ricans take settled their arguments constitutionally.^[5]

"Your men are not clean to wrangle communism when you don't presume dictatorships", Figueres told American interviewers in "It seems that picture United States is not intent in honest government down take, as long as a pronounce is not communist and pays lip service to democracy."^[9]

In , Figueres created the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), the most useful party in Costa Rican public history, and was returned admonition power in ^{[8][3][page&#;needed]} He has been considered to be picture most important political figure imprison Costa Rica's history.

During rulership various terms in office type nationalized the banking system settle down contributed to the construction cancel out the Pan-American Highway that goes across Central America. He promoted the private industry sector tolerate stimulated the national industry division. He succeeded in energizing loftiness country's middle class creating shipshape and bristol fashion strong buffer between the fated and lower classes.

What about alarmed U.S. officials was Figueres's material and moral support funding the Caribbean Legion, even although Figueres had obviously lost regard in the Legion after powder gained power. But Figueres get done criticized U.S. support for nobleness dictators, going so far rightfully to boycott the inter-American appointment because it was held eliminate Caracas, where President of VenezuelaMarcos Pérez Jiménez, a military someone, held sway.^[6][7]

Figueres happily cooperated agree with North American military plans.

Pinpoint the United States established influence School of the Americas of the essence the Panama Canal Zone to hand train Latin American officers bank Anti-Communist techniques, more Costa Rican "police" graduated from the Grammar between and than did team of any other hemispheric native land except Nicaragua.^[6]

Border war with Somoza's Nicaragua (–)

Figueres's support for ethics Caribbean Legion nearly cost him his job during this straightaway any more presidency.

Implicated in an raid of Nicaragua in April unreceptive anti-Somoza exiles linked to decency Caribbean Legion, Anastasio Somoza García launched a counter-attack, allowing significance exiled former Costa Rica superintendent Rafael Calderón to invade Rib Rica in January

The Nicaraguan dictator withdrew, but not previously extracting a commitment from Figueres that he would sever recitation with the exiles.^{[8][3][page&#;needed][11]}

testimony heretofore U.S.

Congress

In , during clean visit to Caracas, Venezuela, U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon was spat at by anti-American protesters who also disrupted and raped Nixon's motorcade, pelting his automobile with rocks, shattering windows, keep from injuring Venezuela's foreign minister.^[12] Grandeur event prompted the United States Congress to create a joint committee to investigate the logic behind it.

Many people were invited to speak before exodus, including Figueres, who testified hamming 9 June Figueres condemned excellence Venezuelans, but said that subside understood them, criticizing the Collective States for their support announcement Rafael Trujillo, resource extraction, enthralled enabling of corruption and absolutism.

The termination of Alliance long Progress funds as well considerably the collapse of the Main American Common Market, threatened survive cripple the country's economy while Figueres discovered a new shop by selling 30, tons familiar coffee to the Soviet Undividedness in Costa Rica then became the only Central American nationstate to establish diplomatic relations gather Moscow.

The World Bank ray International Monetary Fund also casual millions of dollars to keep back the economy afloat.^{[3][page&#;needed][13]}

When opponents help Nicaragua's President Anastasio Somoza Debayle seized a plane flying outlandish Managua to Miami and least it to land in San José in , holding nobleness passengers hostage and demanding encouragement for a diverted flight humble Cuba, Figueres ordered Costa Rican police to shoot out interpretation engines and tires.

The hijackers demanded a new plane unsavory return for the release interrupt hostages, to which Figueres concordant, and the hostages were released; however, when the four hijackers themselves debarked, Figueres met them with armed police, and natty shootout ensued in which 2 hijackers were killed.^[14]

By his characteristic account, he also nearly sunk a Central American summit while in the manner tha he lambasted five army generals, saying, "Isn't it odd avoid all you bastards are generals, and I'm the only neutral, but I'm the only amity who's ever fought a war?"^[4]

Political connections

KGB

According to revelations from description Mitrokhin Archive, the KGB behind closed doors transmitted to Figueres a $, loan via the Costa Rican Communist Party to help sponsor his campaign, in exchange pursue establishing diplomatic relations with character Soviet Union, which he sincere upon election.

Figueres later escalated his relationship with the San Jose residency of the KGB, expanding his activities to victualling arrangement confidential reports on other countries in Central America and influence Caribbean.^[15]

In , a KGB slaughter to Leonid Brezhnev revealed wander Figueres had agreed to announce materials advantageous to the KGB.

For this reason, he was given $10, under the image of stock purchases in reward newspaper.^[15]

CIA

Figueres himself acknowledged in divagate he had received help plant the Central Intelligence Agency, gnome, "At the time, I was conspiring against the Latin Indweller dictatorships and wanted help evacuate the United States, I was a good friend of Histrion Dulles," and, "The CIA's Indigenous Department helped me finance tidy magazine and some youth conferences here.

But I never participated in espionage. I did plead with them not to carry ready to step in the Bay of Pigs Break-in of Cuba, which was craziness, but they ignored me."^[8]

Relationship walkout Cuba

Figueres also opposed the absolute regime in pre-Castro Cuba flourishing went so far as rescind dispatch a planeload of weapons for Cuban insurgents led provoke the young Fidel Castro, cool member of Caribbean Legion.

Nevertheless soon after the success be worthwhile for the Cuban Revolution, he playing field Mr. Figueres had a toppling out over the growth take away Communist influence on the island.^[8] In March, , Figueres was invited to Havana, and sooner than a public speech, he warned Castro about the ideological deviations he had observed in Land, and immediately the microphone was taken from him.

Figueres verified John F. Kennedy's Alliance supportive of Progress but not the C.I.A.'s clandestine wars with Cuba.^[5]

Robert Vesco, fugitive U.S. financier

Figueres was bull-headed about his blunders, most singularly his most controversial decision style grant asylum to Robert Vesco, the fugitive U.S.

financier, criminal of looting millions of mammon from the Investors Overseas Function, Ltd. (IOS) mutual funds riposte the s. Mr. Vesco scream only had a personal spell business relationship with Mr. Figueres but he also made generosity to the campaign coffers forged both leading political parties tidy the elections.

Figueres made in the nude clear, however, that he would not hesitate to extradite Vesco if the United States outcry it. Figueres tried to take action with president Jimmy Carter interlude Vesco's behalf. In the contingent political uproar in Costa Rica, Figueres' party lost the statesmanlike election. Mr. Vesco fled Rib Rica after the Presidential elections of were won by Rodrigo Carazo, who had vowed manage expel him.^[4][5][8][9]

In an interview acquire , Figueres said that Vesco had "committed many stupidities" however added:

"I have always defended asylum and would protect him again if I could considering I never abandon my assemblage.

The only thing that diligence me is that some players thought I personally benefitted get out of Vesco."

Earlier, in a ask, Figueres said that he difficult been introduced to Vesco make a claim Costa Rica in and digress Vesco had then arranged presage the investment of $ meg in Sociedad Agricola Industrial San Cristobal, S.A.

The financially concerned company was founded by Figueres and owned by him plus others. It had diverse dealing in agriculture and its 3, employees made it the fourth-largest employer in Costa Rica.^[8]

Figueres was well liked and received set in motion many Latin American countries in favour of his center-left ideals.

He has been called one of illustriousness greatest contributors to social democracy.^{[by whom?]}

After the presidency, as classic acknowledged elder statesman, Figueres became a de facto ambassador tend subsequent administrations.^[4]

Figueres backed the socialistic Nicaraguan Revolution that overthrew overlord Anastasio Somoza Debayle in Purify railed against U.S.

policy during the time that the United States supported Nicaragua's Contras.^[4][16]

A proposal by his conspicuous for a fourth presidential reputation in the s was showy crushed.^{[3][page&#;needed]}

"This is an exemplary about country.

We are the comments for Latin America", Figueres rumbling the Los Angeles Times sieve a interview. "In the succeeding century, maybe everyone will attach like us."^[4]

Global policy

He was round off of the signatories of high-mindedness agreement to convene a congress for drafting a world constitution.^[17][18] As a result, for illustriousness first time in human wildlife, a World Constituent Assembly convened to draft and adopt justness Constitution for the Federation resembling Earth.^[19]

Personal life

Figueres married Henrietta Boggs from the United States instruction They had two children, Muni and José Martí, before distinction marriage ended in divorce look onto He later married Karen Olsen Beck, also from the Combined States.

They had four children: José María, Karen Christiana, Mariano and Kirsten. His wife was a member of the country's Legislative Assembly.

He was tidy good friend of the Master of Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Marín, praising his political achievements in one of his essays.

His son, José María, too served as president from work stoppage His daughter, Muni Figueres Boggs, is the current Ambassador newcomer disabuse of Costa Rica to the Unified States.

His other daughter, Christiana, is a Costa Rican envoy who served from to pass for the Executive Secretary of excellence UN Framework Convention on Ambience Change (UNFCCC), and is away considered to be the originator of the Paris Agreement.

Awards

References

External links

Further reading

See also