# Abel Pacheco

_President of Costa Rica (2002-2006)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/abel-pacheco
Last updated: 2026-11-04

> Abel Pacheco de la Espriella is a Costa Rican psychiatrist and retired politician who served as the 44th President of Costa Rica from 2002 to 2006. A member of the Social Christian Unity Party, he campaigned on a platform of continuing free-market reforms and implementing an austerity program. He was also the first president of Costa Rica to be elected in a runoff election.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 22 December 1933 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P569))
- **Place of birth:** San José ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Costa Rica ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P27))
- **Occupation:** writer; politician; psychiatrist; physician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P106))
- **Political party:** Social Christian Unity Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P102))
- **Education:** National Autonomous University of Mexico; Louisiana State University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P69))
- **Spouse:** Leila Rodríguez Stahl ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Costa Rica (8 May 2002 – 8 May 2006) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross, Special Class of the Order of the Sun of Peru; Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles; Order of Juan Mora Fernández ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794#P166))

## Questions

**When was Abel Pacheco born?**  
Abel Pacheco was born on 22 December 1933 in San José.

**What positions has Abel Pacheco held?**  
Positions held by Abel Pacheco include: President of Costa Rica (2002–2006).

**Where did Abel Pacheco study?**  
Abel Pacheco was educated at National Autonomous University of Mexico, Louisiana State University.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Abel Pacheco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Pacheco) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q217794](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217794) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Defense.gov News Photo 050511-D-9880W-053 Abel Pacheco cropped.jpg by R.D.Ward (original photo); Rodtico21 (cropped: focus to Abel Pacheco). (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Defense.gov_News_Photo_050511-D-9880W-053_Abel_Pacheco_cropped.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Abel Pacheco, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Defense.gov News Photo 050511-D-9880W-053 Abel Pacheco cropped.jpg — R.D.Ward (original photo); Rodtico21 (cropped: focus to Abel Pacheco)., Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Abel Pacheco". DigiNepal. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/abel-pacheco. Retrieved 15 November 2026.