Polls leave room for late election surge in Costa Rica

Subject

Costa Rica election preview.

Significance

As campaigning enters its final stages ahead of the February 4 presidential and legislative elections, the opposition National Liberation Party (PLN) leads the polls. However, popular frustration with the established political parties has led to a surge in momentum for the National Integration Party (PIN), which looks likely to trigger a second round run-off.

Impacts

• The legislative polls will dictate how much clout the president has in Congress, with no one party looking set for a majority.
• The incumbent Citizen Action Party (PAC) will perform poorly due to Solis’s perceived ineffectiveness and the ongoing ‘cementazo’ scandal.
• Renewed infrastructure investment could bring long-term benefits for trade and tourism.