UPDATE: On October 6, the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) officially convoked the 2022 general elections and released the list of candidates for the presidency, a historic number of 27 hopefuls.
Read the updated report here.
QCOSTARICA – A total of 25 candidates will compete for the Presidency of Costa Rica in the 2022 general elections.
That is the number of qualified applicants, after this Sunday, October 3, the deadline for political groups to choose and ratify their presidential nominations, as well as the lists of candidates for legislators.
This is a historical figure.
The largest number of presidential candidates before these elections was 14 back in 2006.
In the 2018 and 2014 elections, 13 presidential candidates participated, so the next ballot will practically double the options for voters.
Among these candidates, a total of 14 are hedging their bets for a political seat, if in the presidential chair, a seat in Congress. Costa Rica’s election rules allow double applications.
On Wednesday, October 6, the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) – Supreme Electoral Tribunal – will officially call for the 2022 elections to be held on Sunday, February 6.
As of that announcement and until October 22, the groups will be able to register the candidacies and these will be official until the electoral body reviews the fulfillment of requirements.
Costa Rica’s election laws declare a winner the presidential nominee with the majority of votes. If none of the presidential nominees obtained at least 40% of the votes, a second electoral round will be held on Sunday, April 3, between the two candidates who have obtained the most votes.
Among the topics that are expected to decide the vote in February are: the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in more than 6,400 deaths so far; Migration and xenophobia; Cannabis legalization; and Corruption.
The candidates (to be officialized by the TSE) are:
- Camilo RodrÃguez, Renovación Costarricense
- Carmen Quesada, Patria Justa
- Christian Rivera, Alianza Demócrata
- Eduardo Cruickshank, Restauración Nacional
- Eliécer Feinzaig, Liberal Progresista
- Fabricio Alvarado, Nueva República
- Federico Malavassi, Unión Liberal
- Greivin Moya, Fuerza Nacional
- John Vega, De los Trabajadores
- José MarÃa Figueres, Liberación Nacional
- José MarÃa Villalta, Frente Amplio
- Lineth SaborÃo, Unidad Social Cristiana
- Luis Alberto Cordero Arias, Movimiento Libertario
- MartÃn Chinchilla, Pueblo Unido
- Natalia DÃaz, Unidos Podemos
- Oscar Campos, Encuentro Nacional
- Oscar López, Accesibilidad Sin Exclusión
- Rodolfo Hernández, Republicano
- Rodolfo Piza, Nuestro Pueblo
- Rodrigo Chaves, Progreso Social Democrático
- Rolando Araya, Costa Rica Justa
- Sergio Mena, Nueva Generación
- Viviam Quesada, Fuerza Demócratica
- Wálter Muñoz, Integración Nacional
- Welmer Ramos, Acción Ciudadano