Rodrigo Arias quits Costa Rica’s presidential race

National Liberation Party (PLN) candidate Rodrigo Arias – a former minister in the administration of his brother, ex-President Oscar Arias–  on Friday withdrew his bid for the presidency primaries for the upcoming 2014 elections.

In a press conference at 7 p.m., Arias, 66, said that the main reason for his decision is that “polls in the last three months did not show any positive results for my intentions.” 

The results of different surveys always placed San José Mayor Johnny Araya with a considerable advantage over Arias and the other PLN candidates.

Arias’s departure leaves Araya and former Minister Fernando Berrocal alone in the race for the nomination for the ruling National Liberation Party scheduled for April 21.

During the press conference Arias refused to answer a question on whether he would support Araya’s campaign, stating repeatedly that he “will not take part in the nomination process.”

Mayor Araya told local Telenoticias that Arias’ decision “was unexpected, but an objective, realistic and humble decision.”

Last September Antonio Álvarez Desanti quit the race and joined Araya’s campaign. In November, ex-president José María Figueres Olsen (1994-1998) also announced his withdrawal from the nomination process.