Costa Rican primary election
National Liberation Party presidential primary, 2017|
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Turnout | 431,438 |
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presidential primary (or
Convención Nacional “National Convention”) was a primary election programmed for April 2, 2017 in order to choose the party's presidential nominee for the
2018 Costa Rican general election. PLN was then the main opposition party to
Luis Guillermo Solís' government.
After rumors of former
Oscar Arias running for re-election, Arias made public during a television chain on September 19, 2016, that he would not run for the presidency again expecting to promote new and younger leaderships. Former president
José María Figueres, on the other hand, made official his intentions to be nominated.
[2] This despite ethical questionings about the ICE-Alcatel corruption scandal he was involved in during his previous presidency.
.
Other minor candidates also appeared, including former deputy for Limon Clinton Cruickshank and private lawyer Enrique Franco,[4] but both of them withdraw from the race arguing lack of funds. Other candidates like then deputy and radio host Rodolfo Gonzalez and former deputy and physician Sigifredo Aiza did continue their campaign.
Results
Voter's turnout was 431 438, a considerably lesser amount than in the last primary (550.000). The first results showed Desanti ahead with 45% of votes, followed by Figueres.[5] González and Aiza acknowledge the results immediately.[5] Surprisingly the Party's Electoral Tribunal suspended the airing of results at midnight claiming that the counting will continue in the morning.[5] At the same time Figueres and Desanti had a heated discussion on national television as Figueres claimed that data from his campaign show him as the winner and that such result will be "cleared in the morning". Desanti then warned that Figueres' campaign could attempt voters' fraud.[5] The next morning around noon Figueres did recognize defeat and congratulates Desanti who claimed victory.[5]
Popular Vote |
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|
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Antonio Álvarez |
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45.56% |
José María Figueres |
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37.91% |
Rodolfo González |
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9.49% |
Sigifredo Aiza |
|
7.03% |
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Controversies
During one of the debates organized by the State's network
Channel 13 the candidates, unaware that the microphones were already open, discuss the subjects of the debate. Desanti suggest attacking PAC (governing party and PLN’s main rival) to what Figueres agrees, whilst Aiza admits that the government “is not that bad”.
[6]
Opinion polls
Date
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Source
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Antonio Álvarez Desanti
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José María Figueres
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Rolando González
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Sigifredo Aiza
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None
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September–October, 2016
|
Enfoques de Opinión[7]
|
15%
|
38%
|
-
|
8%
|
-
|
November, 2016
|
Cid Gallup[8]
|
35%
|
44%
|
-
|
-
|
18%
|
November, 2016
|
Cid Gallup[8]
|
-
|
23%
|
15%
|
-
|
59%
|
November, 2016 (Party members, without Desanti)
|
Cid Gallup[8]
|
-
|
49%
|
12%
|
-
|
32%
|
February, 2017
|
OPol Consultores
|
42%
|
26%
|
3%
|
2%
|
27%
|
March, 2017
|
Demoscopia[9]
|
45,4%
|
19,8%
|
6%
|
3,1%
|
-
|
See also
Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2017
Social Christian Unity Party presidential primary, 2017
References