Mario José Echandi Jiménez (17 June 1915 – 30 July 2011) was a Costa Rican lawyer and politician who served as the 33rd President of Costa Rica from 1958 to 1962. A conservative liberal, he presided over a process of national reconciliation following the Civil War and modernized the country's drinking water system through the creation of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers.
As diplomat
Mario Echandi was a career diplomat.
Prior to his election, he had served as Costa Rica's ambassador to the United States and as the country's representative to both the United Nations and the Organization of American States (1949–1950).
He also served as the minister of foreign affairs (1950–1952) under President Otilio Ulate and in the Legislative Assembly during President José Figueres's second term in office (1953–1958).
His presidency
President Echandi won the 1958 election by 102.851 votes as candidate of the National Union Party. Francisco J. Orlich was candidate of National Liberation Party with 94.778 and Jorge Rossi had 23.910 votes with the Independent Party. . During his administration some important laws were passed. The "Ley de Aguinaldo" law gave an extra yearly salary to all workers. A law that created the national service for clean water was approved.
After his presidency
He ran for the presidency on two further occasions – 1970 and 1982 – but was defeated on both.
Death
Echandi died on 30 July 2011 at the age of 96 from pneumonia after a heart attack. His wife died in 2001.