Voting Station

Jose Figueres Ferrer

Please vote to return to collections.

World Leader

The Resume

    (September 25, 1906-June 8, 1990)
    Born in San Ramón, Costa Rica
    Oldest child of four children born to Catalan immigrants
    Three-time president of Costa Rica (May 8, 1948-November 8, 1949; November 8, 1953-May 8, 1958; May 8, 1970-May 8, 1974)
    Best known for abolishing the Costa Rican military
    Died of a heart attack in San Jose, Costa Rica

Why he might be annoying:

    His restlessness often put him at odds with his no-nonsense father during his youth.
    He never obtained a formal degree.
    He launched a civil war in response to election complications.
    He first came to power through a coup.
    His first marriage of ten years ended in divorce. (1952)
    He sent weapons to Fidel Castro for the Cuban Revolution.
    He was accused of corruption even though there was little proof to support this.
    He invited Robert Vesco to invest in Costa Rica and refused to extradite him. (1972)
    He supported the Sandinista revolution.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He knew a wide range of subjects despite his lack of a formal degree.
    He provided housing, healthcare, and recreation to his employees at his coffee and cabuya plantation.
    To be fair, the president he overthrew had rigged the election and engaged in corruption.
    Abolishing the military has ensured Costa Rica's position as Latin America's oldest democracy and an island of stability in an unstable region.
    He extended the right to vote to women, blacks, and illiterates in Costa Rica.
    He was a popular figure throughout much of Latin America, being a proponent of democracy and human rights.
    He repelled an invasion from Nicaragua with the help of the Organization of American States. (January 1955)
    He maintained good relations with both America and the Soviet Union, even selling coffee to the latter despite outlawing the communist party in Costa Rica.
    He supported John F. Kennedy's Alliance for Progress.

Credit: Big Lenny


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 92.31% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 60 Votes: 50.0% Annoying