Social Christian Unity Party chooses presidential candidate

Rodolfo Hernández Gómez on Sunday beat Rodolfo Piza Rocafort with nearly 80 percent of party votes to represent the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) in next year’s presidential elections.

The PUSC primary election comitee opened 811 voting centers from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and results were announced at 8 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in San José.

The party’s primary committee reported that some 145,000 people voted.

Hernández, 62, is a physician with 38 years of experience in his field. For the past 12 years, he served as director of the National Children’s Hospital.

Three PUSC candidates have become presidents of Costa Rica: Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier (1990-1994), Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría (1998-2002) and Abel Pacheco de la Espriella (2002-2006).

Hernández will face presidential candidate and San José Mayor Johnny Araya, from the ruling National Liberation Party, who leads in the polls, and other opposition candidates.