|
|
"A collaborative political resource." |
Former president leads Costa Rican race
|
| Parent(s) |
Race
-
|
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Edited | Thomas Walker Feb 06, 2006 04:15pm |
| Category | General |
| News Date | Feb 06, 2006 04:00pm |
| Description | SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — He was the Nobel laureate who stood up to Ronald Reagan and drafted the peace plan that ended Central America's civil wars. Now, two decades later, former President Oscar Arias is back on the campaign trail looking to retake Costa Rica's highest office.
Thinner, grayer and not quite the superhero he was when he won the Peace Prize in 1987 during his first term in office, Arias still leads the pack heading into today's elections.
A recent poll projects that Arias, 65, will emerge the winner with about 46 percent of the vote in a field of six main contenders. That's more than double the projected share of his closest rival, and above the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff with the second-place finisher.
Many Costa Ricans are weary of the corruption scandals that have plagued the conservative Social Christian Unity Party, which has held the presidency for eight years. They are worried about the stagnant economy, rising violence and the fraying of their cherished social-safety net. For some, Arias represents a time when their leader was respected on the world stage and Costa Rica's relative peace, stability and prosperity made it the envy of the region. |
| Article | Read Article |
|
|
