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COSTA RICA: GOVERNING-PARTY CANDIDATE ABEL PACHECO WINS SECOND-ROUND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Article Excerpt
Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica's governing Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) won the presidential runoff election April 7, defeating Partido de Liberacion Nacional (PLN) candidate Rolando Araya. The election failed to ignite public enthusiasm resulting in record abstention. The campaign was marred by campaign-finance irregularities that electoral officials were unequipped to cope with.

The 68-year old Pacheco--a psychiatrist and television personality--took 58% of the vote in a easy win that was expected since the first-round election on Feb. 4 knocked out third-party candidate Otton Solis of the new Partido Accion Ciudadana (PAC). Solis' impressive 26.4% vote helped weaken the PLN candidate, forcing the unprecedented runoff election and probably dampening public interest in the outcome (see NotiCen, 2002-02-07).

The April election was unusual because it was the first runoff in Costa Rican history and because it was the first time the PUSC held onto the presidency for two successive terms. The runoff also set a record for abstention when 39% of voters stayed home.

Pollsters attributed the abstentions to a widespread lack of faith in the two major parties and low expectations for the next administration. Solis announced he would cast a blank ballot to protest the choice limited...

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