San Jose, Costa Rica, Feb 08, 2010, SPA -- "I am the best alternative," CostaRica's first female president Laura Chinchilla said during theelection when asked why voters should choose her over her malecompetitors in Sunday's balloting, dpa reported. The differences between the 50-year-old and her nearest rival,Otton Solis of the Citizen's Action Party, were not always clear. ButChinchilla came out with more than 46 per cent of the vote, makingher the Central American country's first female leader. "I want to thank the pioneering women who years ago opened thedoors of politics in Costa Rica," Laura Chinchilla told supportersSunday. "My government will be open to all Costa Ricans of goodfaith." She has pledged to fight crime, strengthen the police and increaseprosperity. Towards the end of the campaign, it was unclear whether Chinchilla- of outgoing President Oscar Arias' National Liberation Party (PLN)- would be able to clear the 40-per-cent hurdle needed for a clearvictory without a runoff. Analysts speculated that she would not beable to overcome a united opposition in a runoff campaign. The political scientist is the mother of one son and the wife ofSpanish businessman Jose Maria Rico. Her political career began inthe 1990s, when she served as acting security minister from 1994 to1996. Since 2002, she has been a member of parliament and in 2006Arias named her his vice president. Chinchilla has promised to fight for the poor and weak in hernation, in particular by bringing Costa Rica out of its economicdownturn.--SPA 21:29 LOCAL TIME 18:29 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/746389