A GUIDE TO

A Guide to 2018 Latin American Elections: Costa Rica

Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizen Action Party (PAC) won Costa Rica's presidential runoff in an unexpected landslide on April 1 when he beat evangelical Congressman Fabricio Alvarado (no relation) 60.7 percent to 39.3 percent. Fabricio had won the February 4 first round with 24.9 percent of the vote, while Carlos nabbed 21.7 percent.

PAC cofounder Epsy Campbell made history by becoming the first Afro-descendant woman elected vice president in continental Latin America, according to The Tico Times. The new administration will be sworn in on May 8 to a four-year term.

Ticos also elected 57 deputies to the Legislative Assembly in February. The National Liberation Party has 17 seats in the 2018–2022 session, Fabricio's National Restoration Party 14, and the PAC 10. Twenty-six legislators will be women.

>> Find out about other elections in our main 2018 Election Guide.

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