Sharjah24 – Reuters: Anti-establishment economist Rodrigo Chaves clinched Costa Rica's presidency on Sunday, upending decades of political consensus in the Central American country that is grappling with growing social discontent and mounting national debt.

Chaves, a veteran former official of the World Bank, was projected to win about 52.9% of the vote in the run-off ballot, a preliminary tally by the electoral tribunal showed, based on returns from some 97% of polling stations.

Rival candidate and former Costa Rican president Jose Maria Figueres was seen securing about 47.1%.

Speaking to supporters in San Jose, the capital, the 60-year-old Chaves said he accepted his victory with humility, and urged Figueres to help him move the country forward.

"I humbly beg Jose Maria and his party to work together to make possible what Don Jose Maria himself called the Costa Rican miracle," he said, referring to Figueres' father, Jose Figueres Ferrer, who served as president three times.

"Let's put aside pettiness and vanity. Tonight we will begin together to serve our country," added Chaves, who is set to assume office on May 8.