A vote for continuity? What to know for Costa Rica's presidential election

"Polls suggest that the candidate close to outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves is likely to triumph in the February 1 vote. The ruling party of Costa Rica is hoping to extend its control of the presidency for another four years in the country's upcoming election, as voters express apathy about their options and opposition parties struggle to mobilise support. On Sunday, millions of Costa Ricans will head to the polls to vote."

"But while the forecast looks promising for the centre-right populist movement championed by outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, the election conceals a wild card: a large number of undecided voters. list of 3 itemsend of list As many as a third of Costa Ricans have yet to settle on a presidential candidate. Still, Chaves's movement appears on track to secure enough votes to avoid a run-off."

"Voting is scheduled to take place over a 12-hour period on February 1, with the presidency, the two vice presidential positions and all 57 seats of the country's legislature up for grabs. If no presidential hopeful crosses the 40 percent threshold necessary to avoid a run-off, the two top candidates will face off in another round of voting on April 5. While Costa Rica's constitution states that voting is a compulsory civic function, there are no penalties for those who don't participate."

The candidate allied with outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves is favored to win the February 1 presidential election amid a centre-right populist surge. The ruling party aims to extend presidential control for another four years as voters show apathy and the opposition remains fragmented and weak. Up to a third of voters remain undecided, yet Chaves's movement appears likely to avoid a run-off. Support for traditional centre-left parties has declined. Voters now prioritize security over the economy, indicating a political realignment. The vote covers the presidency, two vice-presidential slots and all 57 legislative seats, with a 40% threshold to avoid a second round.

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