Silvia Hernández Sánchez

Silvia Hernández Sánchez
President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica
In office
1 May 2021 – 30 April 2022
Preceded byEduardo Cruickshank Smith
Succeeded byRodrigo Arias Sánchez
2nd Deputy of San José Province
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 May 2018
PresidentCarlos Alvarado Quesada
Preceded byEpsy Campbell Barr
Vice-minister of Planification
In office
1 March 2012 – 8 May 2014
PresidentLaura Chinchilla Miranda
Preceded byMelania Núñez Vargas
Succeeded byLuis Alfredo Fallas Calderón
Personal details
Born
Silvia Vanessa Hernández Sánchez

(1976-11-21) 21 November 1976 (age 48)
San José, Costa Rica
Political partyNational Liberation Party
SpouseRigoberto Zúñiga
Children1
EducationMonterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Universidad Regiomontana, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Silvia Vanessa Hernández Sánchez (born November 21, 1976) is a Costa Rican economist and politician who has been President of the country's Legislative Assembly since 1 May 2021.

Early life and education

Hernández was born in San José on November 21, 1976,[1] the oldest of five children and only daughter of Freddy Hernández and María de los Ángeles Sánchez.[2] Her paternal grandfather was a diplomat and deputy in the government of Daniel Oduber.[2]

Hernández attended public school in Turrialba and Siquirres,[2] before graduating from Bryant High School in Arkansas in 1996 through an exchange program.[1][2] She studied at Universidad Regiomontana in Monterrey, Mexico, before completing a Bachelor of Economics at the Latin University of Costa Rica.[1] While studying, she worked in a call center, and in 2002, she was hit by a car on her way home, breaking both legs and requiring spinal surgery.[2] After spending six months in rehabilitation, she received a scholarship to study in The Netherlands.[2] She has a Masters in Development Economics from Erasmus University and a Masters in International Markets from the University of Salamanca.[3]

Career

Hernández is an economist,[3] and has taught at Lead University in San José.[1][4] From 2006 to 2007, she was an economic advisor to Vice President Kevin Casas Zamora.[2]

Hernández was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a PLN deputy from San José.[2] She worked as Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy in the government of Laura Chinchilla from 2012 to 2014.[3][5] She has been president of the Tax Affair Commission, as well as a member of the Science, Technology and Education and OECD Special Commissions.[3] In April 2019, she was elected chair of the National Liberation Party.[3]

Hernández has published opinion pieces and analysis in La Republica, El Financiero and Dos Magazine.[1]

Hernández was elected President of the Legislative Assembly on May 1, 2021 with 42 votes, and is the fourth woman to hold the position.[6][7][8]

Personal life

Hernández married Rigoberto Zúñiga, a real estate developer, in 2009 and lives in Cartago. They have one daughter.[2] She is Catholic.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Silvia Vanessa Hernández Sánchez". Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bravo, Josué (May 1, 2021). "Silvia Hernandez La Alumna Luchadora en Siquirres". La Nacion (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Martinez Roque, Valeria (April 2, 2019). "Silvia Hernández will be the new head of the PLN faction". Elmundo. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "Silvia Hernández". Lead University.
  5. ^ Arrieta, Esteban (May 1, 2021). "Silvia Hernández es electa como nueva presidenta del Congreso". La Republica (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Perez, Wendy (May 1, 2021). "Silvia Hernández es electa presidenta de la Asamblea Legislativa". Elmundo (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Herrera, Juan José (May 1, 2021). "Silvia Hernández es la nueva presidenta de la Asamblea Legislativa". Teletica (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Diputada PLN Silvia Hernández alcanza la presidencia de la Asamblea Legislativa" (in Spanish). Elpais. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.