No clear presidential frontrunner as Costa Ricans cast votes

SAN JOSE – Costa Ricans voted for a brand new president Sunday in elections which have but to see a transparent favourite emerge among the many 25 candidates and will likely be held amid fears of a low turnout due to a surge in COVID-19 circumstances.

Costa Ricans can even select a brand new Nationwide Meeting within the elections, which occur days after the nation’s high prosecutor filed papers searching for to elevate outgoing President Carlos Alvarado’s immunity so he can face prices associated to the gathering of private info on residents. He isn’t eligible to run once more.

A big proportion of the citizens remained undecided heading into the vote within the Central American nation.

If no candidate captures no less than 40% of the vote, a runoff vote will likely be held April 3 between the highest two candidates. No single candidate was even near that threshold in latest polls.

Costa Ricans are annoyed by excessive unemployment, latest public corruption scandals and one other surge of COVID-19 infections, however haven’t swarmed to a candidate.

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Voting facilities have been busy Sunday morning as some Costa Ricans tried to beat the standard late day crowds. Traces of voters lasted all through the day. Polls closed at 6 p.m. and the primary preliminary outcomes have been anticipated earlier than 9 p.m.

Every individual needed to wash their palms, put on a masks and keep distance contained in the polling locations.

Karla Delgado, a 34-year-old instructor, mentioned the surging infections frightened her, however she felt compelled to do her civic responsibility.

“I feel that with a masks and all being nicely vaccinated, it’s value popping out and taking part within the democratic celebration,” Delgado mentioned. “I feel the protocols are good and I hope that each one of this doesn’t improve the infections a lot.”

The Supreme Elections Tribunal reported good turnout throughout the nation.

“I hoped for fewer individuals within the morning, since you wish to keep away from the strains, however from what I’ve seen lots of people thought the identical and got here to vote early,” mentioned 68-year-old retiree Carlos Rodríguez within the capital.

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He didn’t share his alternative for president, however mentioned he hoped there could be some surprises amongst candidates who hadn’t polled notably nicely.

“We’re going to have to come back to vote once more in April, I’m certain of that,” he mentioned. “The factor is who will get to that spherical.”

Fabricio Alvarado, who misplaced to Carlos Alvarado in a second spherical of voting 4 years in the past, is operating this time for his New Republic social gathering.

José María Figueres is the candidate for the Nationwide Liberation Get together based by his father José Figueres Ferrer, who himself served because the nation’s president on three events within the Forties, 50s and 70s.

The youthful Figueres was Costa Rica’s president from 1994 to 1998, however has been questioned over a $900,000 consulting charge he acquired after his presidency from the telecommunication firm Alcatel whereas it competed for a contract with the nationwide electrical energy firm. He was by no means charged with any crime and denied any wrongdoing.

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Additionally among the many contenders is one other skilled politician, Lineth Saborío for Christian Social Unity. Saborío served as Costa Rica’s vp throughout the administration of Abel Pacheco from 2002 to 2006.

Beforehand, Saborío led Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Division, which oversees felony investigations.

Along with voter apathy, turnout stays unsure as a result of new COVID-19 infections are operating round 6,000 a day. An election official had inspired these contaminated to abstain from voting, however others have acknowledged there’s no strategy to preserve individuals from exercising their constitutional proper.

Polls are scheduled to shut at 6 p.m. Sunday. Costa Ricans residing overseas solid ballots Saturday within the nation’s consulates.