The official ceremony where the new elected president of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, will take over the leadership of the country will be on May 8th at noon time.

Four years ago, the ceremony took place at the National Stadium, but Alvarado made it clear already on April 1st after knowing he had won the elections that this was not going to be the case this time around, “We have to face the fiscal crisis, and for this reason the transfer of power will be done under democratic principles of austerity and inclusion”, he stated.

The future President also affirmed that he would not consider any venue that would put the country in a position of having a considerable expenditure.

Since before the elections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already allocated a budget of $177,000.00, which represents $53,000.00 less that the total spent four years back. However, Minister Manuel Gonzalez, explained that this budget could increase in the event that the elected candidate makes this request.

When Luis Guillermo Solis received the presidency in 2014 the official act had an approximate cost of $230,000.00. Eight years ago, when Laura Chinchilla was officially named president, the ceremony ran close to $350,000.00. Which would make this year’s ceremony the one with the lowest cost.