Costa Rica Voters Set to Punish Rulers Over IMF-Backed Austerity
- Voters aggrieved by new taxes and tight Covid-19 restrictions
- A second round of voting in April is very likely to happen
A voter casts a ballot at a polling station during presidential elections in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Feb. 6.
Photographer: Ozzie Hoppe/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Voters in Costa Rica look set to punish the ruling party in Sunday’s presidential election over austerity and new taxes imposed under an International Monetary Fund deal, fatigue with Covid-19 restrictions and a weak economy.
A record 25 candidates are on the ballot, including school teachers, doctors, lawyers, a farmer and an evangelical singer. Polls show the candidate from the ruling PAC party, which has been in power for 8 years, with 1% support.