Elections in Costa Rica: uncertainty and expectation awaiting the results of the most polarized elections in its history
Uncertainty and expectations mix this Sunday in Costa Rica as the Central American nation awaits the results of the most polarized elections in its history.
A total of 25 candidates presented themselves at the elections in which Costa Ricans were called to elect the successor to outgoing President Carlos Alvarado, two vice presidents and the 57 deputies of Congress for the 2022-2026 period.
According to images broadcast on local television, after the closing of the voting centers, thousands of people took to the streets with flags and banners waiting for the publication of the first official results.
The Costa Ricans gathered in the neuralgic Fuente de la Hispanidad and in other main avenues of the capital, San José.
An economic recession, high unemployment, the coronavirus pandemic and allegations of corruption have fueled disenchantment with government in what has traditionally been one of Latin America’s most stable democracies.
Indecision
And it is that, a few days before the elections, no candidate was outlined as a favorite and none was convincing beyond their political formation.
The polls showed a high level of indecision, in which more than 30% of the population did not know who to vote for.
The doubts led to a historical record of parties presenting their proposals, but the high number also meant a dispersion of voting intentions.
This has led many experts and local media to predict the need for a second round, which would take place on April 3.
This would only happen if none of the candidates for president reaches at least 40% of the votes.
It would be the fourth time in history that Costa Rica needs to go to the second round to elect its president.
Although the polls did not predict a clear winner, the estimates favored the candidates of the Liberación Nacional (PLN), José María Figueres Olsen, of Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), Lineth Saborío and the right-wing evangelical singer Fabricio Alvarado, of Nueva República.
A quiet election
The TSE reported that the electoral day passed without irregularities and with an “extraordinary” citizen participation in a country where the level of abstention in the last elections was 34%.
The electoral authorities indicated that even before the polls opened at 6:00 local time (12:00 GMT) there were already rows of voters, a trend that continued throughout the day.
“There has been an extraordinary influx of people, we have received reports of long lines at voting tables and we are happy because the message of voting early and not leaving the vote for later has been heard by citizens, said the president of the TSE, Eugenia Zamora.
A total of 3.5 million Costa Ricans were summoned this Sunday to the polls.
In 2018, only 65.16% of the electoral roll voted, according to data from the TSE.
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Uncertainty and expectations mix this Sunday in Costa Rica as the Central American nation awaits the results of the most polarized elections in its history.
A total of 25 candidates presented themselves at the elections in which Costa Ricans were called to elect the successor to outgoing President Carlos Alvarado, two vice presidents and the 57 deputies of Congress for the 2022-2026 period.
According to images broadcast on local television, after the closing of the voting centers, thousands of people took to the streets with flags and banners waiting for the publication of the first official results.
The Costa Ricans gathered in the neuralgic Fuente de la Hispanidad and in other main avenues of the capital, San José.
An economic recession, high unemployment, the coronavirus pandemic and allegations of corruption have fueled disenchantment with government in what has traditionally been one of Latin America’s most stable democracies.
Indecision
And it is that, a few days before the elections, no candidate was outlined as a favorite and none was convincing beyond their political formation.
The polls showed a high level of indecision, in which more than 30% of the population did not know who to vote for.
The doubts led to a historical record of parties presenting their proposals, but the high number also meant a dispersion of voting intentions.
This has led many experts and local media to predict the need for a second round, which would take place on April 3.
This would only happen if none of the candidates for president reaches at least 40% of the votes.
It would be the fourth time in history that Costa Rica needs to go to the second round to elect its president.
Although the polls did not predict a clear winner, the estimates favored the candidates of the Liberación Nacional (PLN), José María Figueres Olsen, of Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), Lineth Saborío and the right-wing evangelical singer Fabricio Alvarado, of Nueva República.
A quiet election
The TSE reported that the electoral day passed without irregularities and with an “extraordinary” citizen participation in a country where the level of abstention in the last elections was 34%.
The electoral authorities indicated that even before the polls opened at 6:00 local time (12:00 GMT) there were already rows of voters, a trend that continued throughout the day.
“There has been an extraordinary influx of people, we have received reports of long lines at voting tables and we are happy because the message of voting early and not leaving the vote for later has been heard by citizens, said the president of the TSE, Eugenia Zamora.
A total of 3.5 million Costa Ricans were summoned this Sunday to the polls.
In 2018, only 65.16% of the electoral roll voted, according to data from the TSE.
Now you can receive notifications from BBC News World. Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don’t miss out on our best content.
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