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
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
BornSilvia Vanessa Hernández Sánchez
(1976-11-21) 21 November 1976
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. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021.
  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.