Chinchilla announces shuffling of ministers

President Laura Chinchilla announced a shuffling of ministers in her government at a press conference Thursday afternoon held in Casa Presidencial in the Zapote district of San José.

Laura Alfaro, currently the national planning minister, is leaving her post, Chinchilla announced, to pursue an academic career at Harvard University.

“It is a departure that we regret,” Chinchilla said. “Because of the intellectual strength of Doña Laura Alfaro that generated important contributions to my administration in the discussion and design of public policies.”

Current communication minister, Roberto Gallardo, will move to the Planning Ministry to replace Alfaro and lawmaker, Francisco Chacón, will become the new communication minister.

Alfaro will stay through mid-March to help in the transition of ministers.