December 02, 2005

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Former head of state Óscar Arias Sánchez remains the favourite in Costa Rica's presidential campaign, according to a poll by CID-Gallup. 45 per cent of respondents would vote for Arias in next year's election.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Former head of state Óscar Arias Sánchez remains the favourite in Costa Rica's presidential campaign, according to a poll by CID-Gallup. 45 per cent of respondents would vote for Arias in next year's election.

In March 2004, Arias officially announced his intention to run for president again as the candidate for the National Liberation Party (PLN). The Costa Rican Legislative Assembly opted to bring back presidential re-election in 2003. Arias headed the government from 1986 to 1990.

Ottón Solís of the Citizens Action Party (PAC) is second with 20 per cent, followed by Ricardo Toledo of the governing Social-Christian Unity Party (PUSC) with 10 per cent, Otto Guevara of the Libertarian Movement (ML) with eight per cent, and Antonio Álvarez Desanti of the Union for Change (UPC) with six per cent.

Arias has advocated for the ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In September, Solís said the proposed deal is "a menace" to the country.

The PUSC's Abel Pacheco was elected in a run-off in April 2002 with 58 per cent of the vote. The election is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2006. If no candidate garners more than 40 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off would take place on Apr. 2, 2006.

Polling Data

What candidate would you vote for in the next presidential election?

	Nov. 2005	Oct. 2005	Jul. 2005
Óscar Arias (PLN)	45%	45%	48%
Ottón Solís (PAC)	20%	16%	18%
Ricardo Toledo (PUSC)	10%	14%	13%
Otto Guevara (ML)	8%	11%	9%
Antonio Álvarez Desanti (UPC)	6%	9%	n.a.

Source: CID-Gallup
Methodology: Interviews with 1,018 Costa Rican adults, conducted from Nov. 22 to Nov. 25, 2005. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.