Oscar Arias Confirms Reelection Bid

FORMER President and Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias (1986-1990) this week formally confirmed his intent to run for a second term as president in 2006 as a National Liberation Party candidate, the daily Al Día reported.

“Yes, yes. The answer to your question is I have made my decision,” Arias responded, with a smile on his face, after being cornered outside his house by reporter Pablo Guerén on Wednesday.

Near the end of March, Arias will announce his candidacy to the Costa Rican public on national television.

His statement came one day after his immediate predecessor and fellow party member, former President Luis Alberto Monge (1982-1986), announced he would endorse Antonio Alvaréz Desantí as National Liberation Party’s candidate during the 2006 elections.

Arias and Desantí will meet during the party’s primary elections next year to define who will be the party’s candidate in 2006.