Marisol Espinoza is accompanied by her daughter Lucia Espinoza, as she casts her vote throughout basic elections, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Picture/Carlos Gonzalez)
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA --
A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in a nationwide election that appeared more likely to head to a runoff between the highest candidates.
Jose Maria Figueres, who was the nation's president from 1994 to 1998, had 27.7% of the vote in preliminary outcomes launched by the Supreme Elections Tribunal Sunday night time with 48% of the votes counted. Figueres is the candidate for the Nationwide Liberation Get together.
There are 25 presidential candidates working and if none of them captures not less than 40% of the vote, a runoff might be held April 3 between the highest two vote-getters.
Figueres was trailed by Rodrigo Chavez of Social Democratic Progress with 16.6%, Fabricio Alvarado, who misplaced to President Carlos Alvarado 4 years in the past, with 16% for his New Republic celebration, and former vp Lineth Saborio for Christian Social Unity with 13%. Any of the three may probably face Figueres within the second spherical of voting.
Costa Ricans can even select a brand new Nationwide Meeting within the elections, which occur days after the nation's high prosecutor filed papers looking for to carry outgoing President Alvarado's immunity so he can face
Costa Ricans are annoyed by excessive unemployment, latest public corruption scandals and one other surge of COVID-19 infections.
Voting centres have been busy Sunday morning as some Costa Ricans tried to beat the everyday late day crowds. Traces of voters lasted all through the day. Every individual needed to wash their palms, put on a masks and preserve 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 properly vaccinated, it is 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 does not enhance the infections a lot."
The Supreme Elections Tribunal reported good turnout throughout the nation.
"I hoped for fewer individuals within the morning, since you need 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 Rodriguez within the capital.
He did not share his alternative for president, however mentioned he hoped there can be some surprises amongst candidates who hadn't polled significantly properly.
"We'll have to return to vote once more in April, I am positive of that," he mentioned.
Figueres' Nationwide Liberation Get together was based by his father Jose Figueres Ferrer, who himself served because the nation's president on three events within the Nineteen Forties, 50s and 70s.
The youthful Figueres has been questioned over a US$900,000 consulting payment he obtained 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.
Along with voter apathy, turnout stays unsure as a result of new COVID-19 infections are working round 6,000 a day.
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