Costa Rica might hold a second round
‘I think the duel will be between Pacheco and Araya’
Interview to political analyst Carlos Denton, CID-Gallup Chairman
Feb-01-02

This Sunday Costa Rica will be holding general elections which will for the first time not depict a marked bipartisan scenario...

Exactly. There are three candidates that appear to gather a significant support that could prevent the three of them from obtaining 40% under the country’s political Constitution. Abel Pacheco leads polls including ours. He is a psychiatrist representing the ruling party. Second comes Rolando Araya, vice president of the International Socialist and represents the National Liberation Party (PLN) one of the oldest and most important parties. Finally, PLN dissident Ottón Solís from the Citizens Action Party (PAC) ranks third. He has joined a group including the national liberation left, the old traditional left, a group of youths and others and has formed an interesting force. Also the Libertarian Party candidate Otto Guevara may seize 4 or 5% of votes but there are no chances for him to be in a second round.

This means they are thinking of a second round?
 


It all points this Sunday the next President of Costa Rica
will not be defined. Two of the three candidates leading
the polls (Abel Pacheco, Rolando Araya and Ottón Solís)
would compete for the presidential chair on April 7.

All polls are announcing there will be a second round though there might be some last minute surprise. Some say that as now the national soccer team is in the finals for the gold cup in California, that would help Pacheco to obtain the 40% required to win in the first round, however, these myths and situations that are quite unpredictable abound. We are expecting a second round where Pacheco is certain to be as well as Rolando Araya and we do not discard Solís at all. Anyway, I think the duel will be between Pacheco and Araya.

Which would be the political scenarios of the second round? Would Solís support Araya and the Libertarian Party favor Pacheco or the other way about?

That is the big question. I do not think Solís will officially grant support to Araya or Pacheco. Nonetheless, his advocates would vote or not for Araya. In the case of Guevara (the Libertarian movement is against government’s involvement in the economy, etc) I think it is possible that his people give support to Pacheco, who is more right leaning.

How do you figure the electoral turnout will be and how do you perceive people’s expectations toward the election?

According to out polls and considering turnout was around 67% the last time, quite low for Costa Rica which has traditionally reported a turnout of around 80%, we are optimistic and believe rates will be as they have traditional been, around 80%.


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