Costa Rica’s Laura Chinchilla attends Chávez funeral

Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla arrived in Venezuela on Friday to attend the funeral of late President Hugo Chávez, after resolving “some scheduling problems,” the Casa Presidencial confirmed.

A press release said Chinchilla had planned to attend a memorial act for the former president of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court, Justice Luis Paulino Mora, who died two weeks ago.

“Thursday evening Communications Minister Francisco Chacón spoke with the temporary president of the Supreme Court, Justice Zarella Villanueva, to explain the situation. Following a brief discussion, it was agreed that Vice President Alfio Piva would represent the president in this important ceremony,” the press release said.

On Wednesday, Chacón said that Chinchilla would not attend Chávez’s funeral, and that she would be represented by Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo.

“I arrived in Colombia on Wednesday and [Chinchilla’s] decision was not to attend the funeral. She had ruled out travel to Venezuela, but yesterday I received a message saying she was considering it,” Castillo said after arriving in Caracas Thursday night.

Presidents and other high-level officials from 54 countries attended the state funeral in Caracas.