Presidency Minister

Costa Rica's Minister of the Presidency, Víctor Morales, resigned from the position on Wednesday after just seven months on the job. 

Costa Rica’s official statistics agency announced Thursday that unemployment rose to 11.9% in the second quarter, one of the highest in recent years.

Rodolfo Piza had been a symbol of national unity under the administration of President Carlos Alvarado.

Sergio Alfaro leaves his post as executive president of the National Insurance Institute (INS) to take the job, replacing Melvin Jiménez Marín, who submitted his resignation on Thursday at president Solís’ request. Alfaro is a lawyer and former legislator for the ruling Citizen Action Party from 2007 to 2010.

Jiménez becomes the fourth minister of Solís’ administration to step down and the 15th official to leave during Solís’ 11 months in office.

The Attorney General’s Office on Thursday advised Costa Rica's Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, that it believes the appointment of Lutheran bishop Melvin Jiménez Marín as presidency minister violates a constitutional prohibition on active religious authorities serving on the presidential Cabinet.