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Election Date: February 5, 2006

At stake: President, Legislative Assembly

Background

In 1821, Central America attained its independence from Spain. Two years later, Costa Rica became one of the members of the United Provinces of Central America. In 1838, Costa Rica became a sovereign nation.

From 1849 to 1940, Costa Rica would see a succession of elected governments and coups. The country became a leader in banana cultivation after U.S. businessman Minor Cooper Keith established the United Fruit Company.

In 1944, Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia of the Social-Christian Unity Party (PUSC) took over as president. Calderón Guardia implemented several reforms to the labour system, such as setting minimum wages and recognizing workers' rights.

In 1948, Costa Rica endured a six-week civil war over disputed results in the election to select Calderón's successor. A year later, the country signed a new constitution, which allowed women and citizens of African descent to cast ballots, and effectively abolished the armed forces.

In 1949, José Figueres Ferrer of the National Liberation Party (PLN) became president. Under Figueres, Costa Rica nationalized the banking industry and introduced a social security system.

In the late 1970s, the country's financial situation worsened. In 1982, the PLN's Luis Alberto Monge was forced to implement an austerity program to deal with the economic crisis. In 1986, fellow PLN member Óscar Arias Sánchez supplanted Monge. Under Arias' leadership, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua signed a peace agreement. Arias would eventually receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

The following three presidential elections would see the country's two main parties alternating control of the government under the PUSC's Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier, the PLN's José María Figueres Olsen, and the PUSC's Miguel Ángel Rodríguez.

In April 2002, the PUSC's Abel Pacheco was elected in a run-off in April 2002 with 58 per cent of the vote. Early in his tenure, Pacheco faced a strike by energy and telecommunications workers after a proposed privatization plan. Three ministers resigned after the teacher's union enacted a work stoppage to protest low salaries.

In 2003, the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly opted to bring back presidential re-election.

In May 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua agreed to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States. The Dominican Republic followed suit in August. The agreement—which would reduce or eliminate taxes and tariffs on imports—still has to be approved by each country's legislative branch. Pacheco postponed debate on CAFTA until the Legislative Assembly approves a series of bills related to the country's fiscal system.

In 2004, corruption allegations regarding two former presidents surfaced. Calderón Fournier—who governed from 1990 to 1994—was sentenced to nine months in prison for his alleged involvement in an embezzlement case. Rodríguez—in power from 1998 to 2002—was sentenced to six months in prison for supposedly receiving bribes from a cellular provider.

In June 2005, Pacheco was hospitalized for three days due to hypertension. The president was criticized for allegedly accepting corporate gifts, which may include a membership in a Dominican Republic club and airline vouchers. Pacheco has denied any wrongdoing. Vice-president Lineth Saborío said the government is "totally willing to help with the judiciary's investigation on this matter."

On Sept. 20, a report from a special experts commission stated that the country needs to "implement profound changes" to actually reap the benefits of CAFTA. Pacheco once again called for changes to the fiscal system, saying, "If we want to alter the situation, it is indispensable for those who have the most to contribute."

Costa Rican citizens boast one of the highest living standards in Central America.

2006 Presidential and Legislative Election

In March 2004, Óscar Arias Sánchez officially announced his intention to run for president again as the candidate for the National Liberation Party (PLN). Arias headed the government from 1986 to 1990.

The list of candidates also includes Ottón Solís of the Citizens Action Party (PAC), Antonio Álvarez Desanti of the Union for Change (UPC), Ricardo Toledo of the governing Social-Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Otto Guevara of the Libertarian Movement (ML), José Manuel Echandi of the National Union Party (PUN), Miguel Corrales of Patriotic Union (UP) and Juan José Vargas of Fatherland First (PP).

On Jul. 25, 2005, Toledo was ratified as the PUSC's candidate. The former legislator vowed to enact a tougher immigration policy, saying, "The arrival of illegal foreigners is placing our institutions and our right to have jobs in jeopardy." Toledo also pledged to provide every high school graduate in the country "with a free personal computer and free Internet access for a year."

On Aug. 24, former president Luis Alberto Monge endorsed Álvarez Desanti, calling the UPC candidate "the person who best represents the ideals of social justice and economic growth with dignity." Álvarez Desanti is a former member of the PLN, who served as interior minister in Arias' government.

On Sept. 16, Arias, Solís, Álvarez Desanti, Toledo and Guevara participated in a radio debate. The PAC nominee was the only candidate to come out against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), calling the proposed deal "a menace" to the country.

A September Borge y Asociados/Extra poll put Arias ahead with 41.3 per cent, followed by Solís with 12.7 per cent and Álvarez Desanti with 7.3 per cent.

In October, the National Rescue Party (PRN) sought legal action against the PLN candidate and his brother Rodrigo Arias for alleged wrongdoing in a 1997 land deal. Arias called the situation "dirty campaigning," adding, "The property was acquired n good faith and in accordance with every legal requirement."

On Nov. 17, Arias said racism should be eradicated in Costa Rica, declaring, "Mistakenly, we keep teaching our children that we are a white-skinned society of European origin. Worse yet, we teach them that this makes us different from the rest of Central America. This amounts to ignorance, mental laziness and racism."

On Nov. 30, Arias presented his government plan. The document calls for the annual construction of 16,000 new homes, and seeks to add 400 officers to the country's police force.

In early December, Álvarez Desanti said his proposal calls for "higher wages and increases during times of high inflation," adding, "As long as oil prices continue to rise, any politician who claims prices will not go up is lying."

In December, Toledo blamed his poor showing on some voting intention polls on "having to pay for the current president's bad decisions." Pacheco chided the PUSC candidate, declaring, "Toledo is part of a minority that claims the past year was bad."

Polls released in December 2005 and January 2006 by Unimer, CID-Gallup, Demoscopia and Borge y Asociados gave Arias more than 40 per cent of the vote in the first round.

In early January, some Costa Rican media outlets began to speculate on what Arias' new cabinet might look like. Some current collaborators who have been mentioned as possible ministers include Lorenzo Guadamuz, Leonardo Garnier, Clotilde Fonseca, Alejandro Cruz and Fernando Durán Ayanegui. PLN campaign chief Rodrigo Arias dismissed the suggestions, saying, "We are concentrated on winning the election, and nothing more."

Polls released in late January and early February by Demoscopia and CID-Gallup suggested a first round victory for Arias, with 45.5 per cent and 47 per cent of the vote respectively.

Voting took place on Feb. 5. Preliminary results with 88.44 per cent of all polling stations reporting put Arias ahead with 40.51 per cent of the vote, with Solís a close second with 40.28 per cent.

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has announced that certified results will not be available for at least 10 days, as the vote is too close and merits a manual recount. Arias declared, "I was wrong, I thought we would win by three or four points. The pollsters were wrong, and there's nothing else to say." Solís said the companies had made "an unintended mistake."

Voter turnout was tabled at 65.6 per cent.

On Feb. 23, the TSE released final tallies, which gave Arias a 1.1 per cent lead over Solís. The TSE did not certify Arias as the president-elect until all election-related complaints were analyzed.

On May 8, Arias was sworn in for the second time. In his inauguration speech, the president declared, "From today on, we will have a defined path regarding honesty and ethics in public office. I haven't arrived at this post to please any particular group, but to defend the interest of Costa Rican society as a whole."

Political Players

President: Oscar Arias - PLN
First vice-president: Laura Chinchilla Miranda - PLN
Second vice-president: Kevin Roberto Casas Zamora - PLN

The president and the two vice-presidents are elected—on the same ticket—to a four-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Asamblea Legislativa (Legislative Assembly) has 57 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation in each province.

Results of Last Election:

President - Feb. 5, 2006

Legislative Assembly - Feb. 5, 2006

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