Costa Rica's Surprise Presidential Election Outcome (+video)
Costa Rica's Surprise Presidential Election Outcome (+video)
COA’s Eric Farnsworth comments on the presidential candidates’ prospects as Costa Rica heads to a runoff on April 6.
An unexpected candidate in Costa Rica’s presidential race surprised voters and the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN) last night, sprinting to the front of a crowded field of 13 presidential hopefuls, and forcing the country into its second ever runoff election, the first since 2002.
Luis Guillermo Solís of the progressive Citizen Action Party (PAC), was still in a distant fourth place in the polls at the beginning of January, but support surged over the past few weeks following a strong debate performance. Mr. Solís has promised to focus on alleviating inequality, improving public infrastructure, and fighting corruption....
A critic of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, Solís has also proposed reorienting the country’s economy toward small and medium-sized businesses to generate jobs with less emphasis on foreign direct investment.
"It's not radical change people are looking for, it's change within a certain structure,” says Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Americas Society. “Solís is seen as an outsider candidate but in reality he's part of the establishment. He's not going to be dramatic change but he might do something differently." Mr. Farnsworth says.
Corruption scandals and allegations that plagued President Laura Chinchilla’s administration drove her approval ratings in 2013 to the lowest in 20 years. After the ruling PLN’s eight years in power, Araya struggled to set himself apart from the unpopular leader....
