Costa Rica elects first woman, social conservative as next president

Voters in Costa Rica have elected Laura Chinchilla as the next president. The former vice-president was elected with 47 percent of the vote over the weekend and will now become the country's first female head of state. During the campaign, Chinchilla promised to continue Costa Rica's free trade policies and highlighted fighting crime as a top priority, by pledging to raise spending on security by fifty percent. She follows the welfare policies of her party, The National Liberation Party, but comes down conservatively on other social issues. She's against gay marriage and a woman's right to an abortion.

To discuss what the election of Laura Chinchilla means for the Costa Rican people, we're joined by Nicole Fillion-Robin, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs; and Larry Birns, Director at the DC-based organization.

Analysis of election in Costa Rica from the Council on Hemispheric Affairs: http://www.coha.org/costa-rica-elections2010/