Presidential Vote Headed to Runoff
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Candidates from Costa Rica’s top two political parties prepared for a presidential runoff after neither won the 40% needed for a first-round victory.
With 93% of precincts reporting after Sunday’s vote, Abel Pacheco, 67, a psychiatrist and novelist from the ruling Social Christian Unity Party, led with 38.5% of the vote. Rolando Araya, 54, a chemical engineer from the National Liberation Party, finished with 30.9%.
A runoff will be held April 7, the first in more than 50 years.
The runoff was due in part to a strong showing by Otton Solis, 47, a National Liberation Party dissident running as the upstart Citizens’ Action Party’s candidate. Solis received 26.3% of the vote.
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