According to the latest results reported from Costa Rica’s Supreme Election Tribunal (TSE) there will be a second and final round on April 3 between former President Jose Maria Figueres of the National Liberation Party (PLN) and Rodrigo Chaves of the Party for Social Democratic Progress (PSD).
Figueres received 27.29% of the vote and Chaves 16.66% with approximately 80% of the results reported.
There were a total of 25 candidates running for the top office this cycle.
In third place was Fabricio Alvarado of the New Republic Party (NR) with 14.90% of the vote and Lineth Sabrio of the Party Social Christian Unity (PUSC) with 12.40%.
Eliecer Feinzaig of the Progressive Liberal Party did not make it to the second round but was elected to the National Assembly along with 5 other members of his party.
The Broad Front (FA) candidate Jose Maria Villalta, also failed to make it to the second round but will send 5 members to the National Assembly.
A disappointing election result was the record level of absenteeism. According to the TSE 40%, of eligible voters stayed away from the first round of voting.
Figueres seems to be the favorite in the second round but with 72% of the vote going to other candidates or those abstaining in the first round, he will not only need to convince more voters to give him a second term but also consolidate his party’s influence in the National Assembly in order to promote his agenda for the future of Costa Rica.
