About 3.5 million citizens of Costa Rica They are summoned to the polls on Sunday to elect the president who will govern the country for the next four years, in a second round in which the former president arrived Jose Maria Figueres and the economist Rodrigo Chavez after a controversial campaign.
This Saturday there was calm in the streets as is customary on the eve of an election in this country. At night, supporters of the candidates came out with their flags in caravans.
After a campaign full of attacks between the two candidates for questions of corruption and sexual harassment, and with the polls giving a technical draw or a slight Chaves leadCosta Ricans will go to the polls to decide who will lead the Government between May 2022 and May 2026.
Keysof the young Democratic Social Progress Partywas sanctioned within the World Bank in 2019 for complaints of sexual harassment filed by collaborators for events that would have occurred 14 years ago.
For its part, to Figuerespresident between 1994 and 1998, is haunted by a suspicion of corruption when he was no longer president, for which he was not charged by prosecutors, but which persists in the collective memory of the country because he lived in Switzerland for almost 8 years while the case was investigated.
Keysan economist by profession, has proposed reducing the size of the State, reducing social charges and obstacles to investment and entrepreneurship, but his message has focused on promising a head-on fight against corruption for which he blames traditional parties such as the National Liberation Party (PLN), to which its rival belongs.
On your side, Figueresan industrial engineer, has focused his company on offering his experience as a former president and in international positions in entities such as the World Economic Forum, and He has promised programs to reactivate the economy and generate employment with a vision more aimed at strengthening the role of the State.
The Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) has reported that everything is ready for Sunday’s election day and that the only two polling stations that will not open are those in Shanghai, China, due to confinement due to the covid-19 pandemic, and Moscow, Russia, due to logistical problems stemming from the war with Ukraine.
“The election is a key to unlock opportunities, it is one of the most important keys used by citizens in a democracy. It is not only about the participation of the two parties and candidates, but a process in which we are all involved because it is a country decision”, affirmed the president of the TSE, Eugenia Zamora.
A total of 3.5 million Costa Ricans are called to the polls this Sunday to elect the next president for the 2022-2026 period. The Court will have 2,151 voting centers and 80 polling stations installed abroad.
Voting centers will be open for 12 hours between 06:00 and 18:00 local time (12:00 and 00:00 GMT), and The TSE will publish the first results in a formal session at 8:00 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT on Monday).
THE FIGHT AGAINST ABSTENTIONISM
Surveys have shown a discontent of the population towards the political class and some have even measured that about a third of the voters will vote “against” one of the two candidates and not necessarily because they support the other.
In the first round of last February 6, in which the record number of 25 presidential candidates participated, abstentionism was just as unprecedented with 40%.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the political parties, the media and even international organizations have called on the population to turn out to vote en masse.
The United Nations System in Costa Rica asked the voters to assume their responsibility and commitment to Costa Rican democracy and attend the second round of voting so that “it is a true civic party as they have always been in the country.”
The UN also asked Costa Ricans to ensure an informed vote and read the government plans of the two candidates on key issues for the country’s development such as the fight against poverty and inequality, strengthening health, education, decent work and the protection of the environment.
Source: Elcomercio