In Costa Rica, ruling party candidate Laura Chinchilla has become the country's first woman president with a landslide victory in Sunday's voting. Election results showed Chinchilla with 47 per cent of the votes cast, more than 20 percentage points ahead her closest rival. Her main opponents quickly conceded defeat. Chinchilla, who served as vice president under outgoing President Oscar Arias, needed a total vote of 40 per cent to avoid a runoff election. Chinchilla campaigned on promises to continue Mr Arias's business-friendly policies and to take measures to curb rising crime. Costa Ricans also chose a new legislature and municipal leaders on Sunday.