No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeElections 2018New poll: Statistical dead heat in Costa Rica's presidential elections

New poll: Statistical dead heat in Costa Rica’s presidential elections

Evangelical preacher Fabricio Alvarado and former government minister Carlos Alvarado are in a statistical tie as the second round of Costa Rica’s presidential campaign enters full swing, according to a poll published Wednesday.

The poll, conducted by the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Research and Political Studies (UCR-CIEP), shows Fabricio Alvarado with 45 percent of voter support, versus a 42 percent for his rival. The difference is within the poll’s margin of error, 3.6 points.

“The scenario that has opened up is a very close race between very even forces,” CIEP political scientist Ronald Alfaro told AFP.

Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-year-old journalist who left his job as a reporter to preach and sing in Pentecostal churches, represents the National Restoration (PRN). Until recently, the party was a small one, but that changed on Feb. 5: in addition to Alvarado’s success in the first round of elections, the party captured a whopping 14 seats in the 57-member Legislative Assembly, second only to the traditional National Liberation Party with 17.

Costa Rica’s election result: two rounds and two realities

“We’ve maintained significant stability, which gives us a lot of satisfaction, but we continue to invite those who want to restore this country to work” to win votes in the center of Costa Rica, where his party has less strength, Fabricio Alvarado said in a statement.

Carlos Alvarado, 38, also a journalist and a former Labor Minister, is the candidate for the Citizen Action Party (PAC, center left).

The poll “motivates us to keep working, to keep reinforcing our job proposals for the whole country, specially for the coastal zones,” where his opponent has the advantage, said Carlos Alvarado.

The evangelical preacher obtained 24.9 percent of the vote in the Feb. 4 election, versus 21.6 percent for the PAC candidate.

The CIEP poll is based on a panel of 723 people consulted periodically since October 2017, and was carried out by phone from February 68.

According to the poll, 54 percent of Fabricio Alvarado’s supporters say the primary reason they plan to vote for him is “defense of the traditional values”.

The preacher, who less than one month before February’s elections was at 3 percent in the CIEP poll, surged to the lead after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of same-sex marriage within its member countries, which include Costa Rica. Alvarado said that if he is elected, he will withdraw Costa Rica from the court in order to avoid complying with the ruling.

Costa Rica meets its new presidential candidates – fresh from the middle of the pack

Trending Now

End of Air Canada Strike Brings Relief for Costa Rica-Bound Passengers

Air Canada flight attendants ended their strike Tuesday after reaching a tentative agreement with the airline, paving the way for flights to resume gradually....

US Cracks Down on Costa Rica’s Narco Network with New Sanctions

The US Treasury Department moved against a Costa Rican drug trafficking ring today sanctioning four individuals and two entities tied to cocaine smuggling and...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Sector Alarmed Over Rising Violence and U.S. Criticism

Tourism leaders in Costa Rica are warning that rising crime and international criticism could damage the country’s reputation as one of Latin America’s safest...

El Salvador Schools Enforce Military-Style Uniform Inspections

El Salvador's public schools will start enforcing daily inspections for students' uniforms and haircuts from August 20, as ordered by the new education minister,...

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Valley

An earthquake shook Costa Rica early Friday morning. The tremor occurred at 12:45 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.4. Its epicenter was located 1...

Honduras agrees to receive migrants under new US deportation agreement

The US has signed a new deportation agreement with Honduras, allowing officials to send migrants from other countries there instead of keeping them in...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica