The Supreme Elections Tribunal ruled against the Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance Federation last week, finding that a paid editorial leading up to the Feb. 2 election from the religious group restricted Ticos' freedom to vote, according to a press release from the elections authority last Friday, Feb. 28.
In December, the advocacy group Environmental Network Alliance hoped to bring green issues to the forefront of Costa Rica's presidential debates by scheduling an environmental forum for candidates. Only two of 13 candidates – Luis Guillermo Solís and José María Villalta – showed up.
The high cost of electricity and fluctuating exchange rate ranked among the greatest concerns for Costa Rican businesses during the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the Union of Private-Sector Chambers and Associations' latest Business Pulse survey released Wednesday.
National Liberation Party presidential candidate Johnny Araya has been fuming over a request for information by Costa Rica's Tax Administration that was leaked to local media this week. Araya says the move was calculated to hurt his chances at the polls in an April runoff.
Costa Rica's Supreme Elections Tribunal released the official results of the Feb. 2 election. Citizen Action Party's Luis Guillermo Solís eked out a victory of less than 20,000 votes over runner-up Johnny Araya, of the National Liberation Party.
Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega wants to open up a dialogue with Laura Chinchilla's successor as president of Costa Rica, according to Nicaraguan analysts in a report by the news agency EFE.
Costa Rica's electoral code forbids mass public events during elections. The close race in last Sunday's presidential vote means that several sporting and cultural events will have to be rescheduled to allow for an April 6 runoff election.
