Vice President of Costa Rica


The 1949 Constitution of Costa Rica established two Vice-Presidencies of Costa Rica, which are directly elected through a popular vote on a ticket with the president for a period of four years, with no immediate re-election. There has been various incarnations of the office. Vice presidents replace the president in cases of temporary or permanent absence.
Throughout the history of independent Costa Rica, there have been different systems to cover the temporary or permanent absence of a president. Several different names have been used for this position:
The following tables contain a list of the officials elected to the vice-presidential position since 1821.

Vice Presidents of the Governing Committees of Costa Rica (1821–24)

Between 1821 and 1824 Costa Rica was governed through a system of Governing Committees who chose from among their members a president and a vice-president.
NameTitleTime in OfficeNotes
Nicolás Carillo y AguirreVice-President of the Interim Governing Committee1821–1822
José Maria de Peralta y La VegaVice-President of the High Governing Committee1822–1823Acted as interim president on some occasions
José Francisco MadrizVice-President of the High Governing Committee1 January – 20 March 1823
Santiago de Bonilla y Laya-BolívarVice-President of the Provincial Constitutional Congress16–30 April 1823Acted as interim president for some sessions
Manuel García-EscalanteInterim Vice-President of the Provincial Constitutional Congress30 April – 6 May 1823Acted as interim president for some sessions
Santiago de Bonilla y Laya-BolívarVice-President of the Provincial Constitutional Congress6–10 May 1823
Eusebio Rodríguez y CastroVice-President of the High Governing Committee1823–1824
Alejo AguilarVice-President of the High Governing Committee8 January – 12 February 1824
Eusebio Rodríguez y CastroVice-President of the High Governing Committee12 February – 8 September 1824

Vice-Heads-of-State of Costa Rica (1824–41)

Between 1824 and 1841, in accordance with the Basic Law of 21 January 1825 and 1844, a Vice-Head-of-State was elected by the people.
NameTime in OfficeNotes
Mariano Montealegre Bustamante1824–1825Provisional
José Rafael de Gallegos y Alvarado1825–1833Elected 1825 and 1829; acted as interim head of state on a number of occasions
Manuel Fernández Chacón1833–1837Elected 1833; acted as interim head of state from June to July 1835
Juan Mora Fernández1837–1838Elected 1837, but his government was overthrown in 1838; acted as interim head of state on a number of occasions
Miguel Carranza Fernández1838–1841Filled term of office left by his predecessor

Second Heads of State (1841–42)

In line with the Decree of Rules and Guarantees of 1841, a popularly elected Second-Head-of-State was created to replace the Head of State in case of temporary or permanent absence.
NameTime in OfficeNotes
Manuel Antonio Bonilla Nava1841–1842Acted as interim president in 1842; his government was overthrown that year

Vice-Heads-of-State (1842–44; 1846–47)

From 1842 to 1844 and from 1846 to 1847 the country returned to the system of Vice-Heads-of-State.
NameTime in OfficeNotes
Juan Mora Fernández1842Provisional, elected by the Constitutional Assembly of 1842; his government was overthrown in 1842
Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla1843–1844Provisional, elected by the Constitutional Assembly in 1843; replaced by a new position in 1844; acted as Head-of-State on a number of occasions
José María Castro Madriz1846–1847Provisional, popularly elected, became Vice-President of State in 1847; acted as Head-of-State on a number of occasions

Vice-Presidents of State (1847–1848)

From 1847 to 1848 Costa Rica had a Vice-President of State, who was popularly elected.
NameTime in OfficeNotes
José María Castro Madriz1847Acted as interim president
José María Alfaro Zamora1847Elected to a six-year term in 1847, resigned
Juan Rafael Mora Porras1847–1848Acted as president on a number of occasions; elected to fill term of predecessor, but resigned

Vice-Presidents of the Republic of Costa Rica (1848–59)

From 1848 to 1849 the popularly elected Costa Rican Vice-President of the Republic presided over the Legislature.
NameTime in OfficeNotes
Manuel José Carazo Bonilla1849Elected to complete the 1849–1853 of his predecessor, but resigned; acted as president from March–April 1849
Juan Rafael Mora Porras1849Elected to complete Alfaro's mandate 1849–1853; was elected president in 1849
Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla1849–1856Elected to complete Alfaro's mandate 1849, re-elected 1853, died in 1856; acted as president on a number of occasions
Vicente Aguilar Cubero1856–1857Elected to complete Oreamuno's mandate, resigned
Rafael García-Escalante Nava1857–1859Elected to complete Oreamuno's mandate, re-elected 1859, overthrown 1859; acted as president on a number of occasions

Designates to the Presidency 1859–81

In the Costa Rican constitutions of 1859, 1869 and 1871, the role of popularly elected vice-president was replaced by two Designates to the Presidency, elected annually by the Legislature.
Designates to the PresidencyPeriod of MandateNotes
1) Francisco Montealegre Fernández; 2) Vicente Aguilar Cubero1860–1861
1) Jesús Jiménez Zamora; 2) Juan Fernando Echeverría Julián Volio Llorente; 2) Manuel José Carazo Bonilla1862–1863
1) Agapito Jiménez Zamora; 2) Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz1863–1864
1) José María Castro Madriz; 2) Juan José Ulloa Solares1864–1865; re-elected for the period 1865–1866
1) Julián Volio Llorente; 2) Aniceto Esquivel Sáenz1866–1867
1) José María Montealegre Fernández; 2) Manuel Antonio Bonilla Nava1867–1868
1) Jesús Jiménez Zamora; 2) Francisco María Iglesias LlorenteElected for the period 1868–1869; their mandate ended when the government was overthrown in 1868
1) Eusebio Figueroa Oreamuno; 2) Agapito Jiménez Zamora1869–1870; ended their mandate when the government was overthrown in April 1870Eusebio Figueroa Oreamuno acted as interim president in April 1869
1) Rafael Barroeta BacaAppointed Designate to the Presidency by the de facto Government in 1870; performed the role until the constitutional government assumed power in 1872Acted as president on a number of occasions
1) José Antonio Pinto Castro; 2) Rafael Barroeta Baca1872–1873José Antonio Pinto Castro acted as president from 1872 to 1873
1) Salvador González Ramírez; 2) Rafael Barroeta Baca1873–1874Salvador González Ramírez acted as president from November to December 1873 as did Rafael Barroeta Baca from 1873 to 1874
1) Rafael Barroeta Baca; 2) Vicente Herrera Zeledón1874–1875
1) Joaquín Lizano Gutiérrez; 2) Rafael Barroeta Baca1875–1876Joaquín Lizano Gutiérrez acted as interim president in 1875
1) Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez; 2) Vicente Herrera Zeledón Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez; 2) Manuel Antonio Bonilla NavaAppointed in 1876 by President Vicente Herrera Zeledón; ended their mandates in 1877Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez acted as interim president in September 1877 and refused to recognise President Vicente Herrera Zeledón
1) Pedro Quirós Jiménez; 2) Rafael Barroeta Baca 1877–1881

Designates to the Presidency 1881–82

In 1881 President Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez replaced the system of two Designates to the Presidency with one of seven Designates. This situation lasted until the constitutional government assumed power in 1882
Designates to the PresidencyPeriod of MandateNotes
1) Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez Salvador Lara Zamora; 3) José María Castro Madriz; 4) Manuel Argüello Mora; 5) Pedro Quirós Jiménez; 6) Víctor Guardia Gutiérrez; 7) Próspero Fernández OreamunoAppointed by President Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez in 1881; ended their mandates when constitutional rule was restored in 1882Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez acted as interim president during June and July 1882, as did Salvador Lara Zamora from 1881 to 1882 and Próspero Fernández Oreamuno during July and August 1882. Saturnino Lizano Gutiérrez assumed the presidency on the death of President Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez in July 1882

Designates to the Presidency 1882–1948

In 1882, with the restoration of the 1871 Constitution, Costa Rica returned to the system of Designates to the Presidency, but with three designates, elected by the Legislature for same four-year period as the President of the Republic.
Designates to the PresidencyPeriod of MandateNotes
1) Luis Diego Sáenz Carazo José María Castro Madriz José María Oreamuno y Oreamuno1882–1886Bernardo Soto Alfaro assumed the presidency on the death of President Próspero Fernández Oreamuno in 1885
1) Apolinar de Jesús Soto Quesada; 2) Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra; 3) Carlos Durán Cartín1886–1890All three Designates acted as interim presidents
1) Pánfilo Valverde Carranza; 2) Carlos Durán Cartín; 3) Joaquín Lizano Gutiérrez1890–1894
1) José Rodríguez Zeledón; 2) Carlos Durán Cartín; 3) Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra1894–1898
1) Juan José Ulloa Giralt Juan Bautista Quirós Segura; 3) Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra, Demetrio Iglesias Llorente Rafael Yglesias Castro Cleto González Víquez; 3) Juan Bautista Quirós Segura1902–1906
1) Carlos Durán Cartín; 2) Andrés Venegas García; 3) José Astúa Aguilar1906–1910
1) Manuel de Jesús Jiménez Oreamuno; 2) Alberto González Soto; 3) Ezequiel Gutiérrez Iglesias1910–1914
1) Alfredo González Flores; 2) Domingo González Pérez; 3) Francisco Aguilar BarqueroElected for the period 1914–1918; ended their mandates when the government was overthrown in January 1917Alfredo González Flores was appointed to the presidency for the period of this mandate
1) José Joaquín Tinoco Granados Rafael Cañas Mora; 3) Ezequiel Gutiérrez IglesiasElected for the period 1917–1923; ended their mandates with the end of constitutional rule in September 1919Juan Bautista Quirós Segura acted as interim president and assumed the presidency, when President Federico Alberto Tinoco Granados resigned in August 1919
1) Andrés Venegas García; 2) Carlos María Jiménez Ortiz; 3) Carlos Brenes Ortiz1919–1920
1) Aquiles Acosta García; 2) Alfredo González Flores; 3) Arturo Volio Jiménez1920–1924
1) Carlos María Jiménez Ortiz; 2) Jorge Volio Jiménez; 3) Felipe José Alvarado Echandi1924–1928
1) Fabio Baudrit González; 2) Francisco Ross Ramírez; 3) Andrés Venegas García1928–1932
1) Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno; 2) Julio Acosta García; 3) León Cortés Castro1932–1936Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno was appointed president for the period 1932–1936
1) Carlos Pupo Pérez; 2) Jorge Hine Saborío; 3) Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia1936–1940
1) Rafael Calderón Muñoz Jorge Hine Saborío; 3) Francisco Calderón Guardia1940–1944Rafael Calderón Muñoz, Jorge Hine Saborío and Francisco Calderón Guardia acted as interim presidents
1) Francisco Calderón Guardia; 2) René Picado Michalski; 3) Santos Leon Herrera1944–1948René Picado Michalski and Santos Leon Herrera acted as interim presidents.

Vice Presidents of Costa Rica (since 1949)

In accordance with the Costa Rican constitution of 7 November 1949 there are two vice presidents, popularly elected at the same time as the president.
Vice Presidents of Costa RicaPeriod of MandateNotes
1) Alberto Oreamuno Flores; 2) Alfredo Volio MataElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1949–1953Both acted as interim presidents
1) Raúl Blanco Cervantes; 2) Fernando Esquivel BonillaElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1953–1958Both acted as interim presidents
1) Abelardo Bonilla Baldares; 2) José Joaquín Peralta EsquivelElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1958–1962Abelardo Bonilla Baldares acted as interim president
1) Raúl Blanco Cervantes; 2) Carlos Sáenz HerreraElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1962–1966Both acted as interim presidents
1) Jorge Vega Rodríguez; 2) Virgilio Calvo SánchezElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1966–1970Both acted as interim presidents
1) Manuel Aguilar Bonilla; 2) Jorge Rossi ChavarríaElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1970–1974Both acted as interim presidents
1) Carlos Manuel Castillo Morales; 2) Fernando Guzmán MataElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1974–1978Both acted as interim presidents
1) Rodrigo Altmann Ortiz; 2) José Miguel Alfaro RodríguezElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1978–1982Both acted as interim presidents
1) Alberto Fait Lizano Armando Aráuz AguilarElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1982–1986Both acted as interim presidents
1) Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón; 2) Victoria Garrón Orozco de DoryanElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1986–1990Both acted as interim presidents
1) Germán Serrano Pinto; 2) Arnoldo López EchandiElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1990–1994Both acted as interim presidents
1) Rodrigo Oreamuno Blanco; 2) Rebeca Grynspan MayufisElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1994–1998Both acted as interim presidents
1) Astrid Fischel Volio; 2) Elizabeth Odio BenitoElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 1998–2002Both acted as interim presidents
1) Lineth Saborío Chaverri; 2) Luis Fishman ZonzinskiElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 2002–2006Lineth Saborío Chaverri acted as interim president. Luis Fishman Zonzinski never formally took office as the country's second vice president.
1) Laura Chinchilla Miranda Kevin Casas Zamora Alfio Piva Mesén; 2) Luis Liberman GinsburgElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 2010–2014Both have acted as interim presidents.
1) Helio Fallas Venegas; 2) Ana Helena Chacón EcheverríaElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 2014–2018First members of Citizens' Action Party to be elected as the country's vice presidents.
1) Epsy Campbell Barr; 2) Marvin Rodríguez CorderoElected Vice-Presidents of the Republic for the period 2018–2022First woman of African descent elected as vice-president.