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National Liberation Party presidential primary, 2017

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Turnout	431,438
Nominee Antonio Álvarez Desanti José María Figueres Olsen Party PLN PLN Alliance Arism, Arayism Figuerism Popular vote 191,217 154,830 Percentage 45.56% 37.91%   Nominee Rodolfo González Ulloa Sigifredo Aiza Campos Party PLN PLN Alliance Independent Independent Popular vote 38,526 32,310 Percentage 9.49% 7.03%
Previous Presidential Candidate Johnny Araya Presidential Candidate Antonio Álvarez Desanti

Costa Rica's National Liberation Party presidential primary (or Convención Nacional “National Convention”) was a primary election programmed for April 2, 2017 in order to choose the party's presidential nominee for the 2018 Costa Rican general election. PLN was then the main opposition party to Luis Guillermo Solís' government.

After rumors of former president and Nobel Prize laureate Oscar Arias running for re-election, Arias made public during a television chain on September 19, 2016, that he would not run for the presidency again expecting to promote new and younger leaderships. Former president José María Figueres, on the other hand, made official his intentions to be nominated. This despite ethical questionings about the ICE-Alcatel corruption scandal he was involved in during his previous presidency.

President of Congress and former minister Antonio Alvarez Desanti quickly followed him announcing his candidacy on November 10. Desanti was endorsed by Arias himself, his brother Rodrigo and for San José Mayor and previous PLN nominee Johnny Araya. Desanti's presidential aspirations are not new, as he already tried to be candidate in the 2001 presidential primary, losing to Rolando Araya, and also was candidate by his self-made party Union for Change in the 2006 general election.

Other minor candidates also appeared, including former deputy for Limon Clinton Cruickshank and private lawyer Enrique Franco, but both of them withdraw from the race arguing lack of funds. Other candidates like then deputy and radio host Rodolfo Gonzalez and former deputy and physician Sigifredo Aiza did continue their campaign.

Results

Voter's turnout was 431 438, a considerably lesser amount than in the last primary (550.000). The first results showed Desanti ahead with 45% of votes, followed by Figueres. González and Aiza acknowledge the results immediately. Surprisingly the Party's Electoral Tribunal suspended the airing of results at midnight claiming that the counting will continue in the morning. At the same time Figueres and Desanti had a heated discussion on national television as Figueres claimed that data from his campaign show him as the winner and that such result will be "cleared in the morning". Desanti then warned that Figueres' campaign could attempt voters' fraud. The next morning around noon Figueres did recognize defeat and congratulates Desanti who claimed victory.

Controversies

During one of the debates organized by the State's network Channel 13 the candidates, unaware that the microphones were already open, discuss the subjects of the debate. Desanti suggest attacking PAC (governing party and PLN’s main rival) to what Figueres agrees, whilst Aiza admits that the government “is not that bad”.

Opinion polls

See also

• Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2017
• Social Christian Unity Party presidential primary, 2017

References

1. Alvarado, Jose (2016). "¡Qué rápidos! Convención del PLN será el 2 de abril de 2017" (in Spanish). La Prensa Libre. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
2. Ruiz, Gerardo (2016). "José María Figueres será precandidato del PLN para el 2018" (in Spanish). La Nación. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
3. "Antonio Álvarez anuncia precandidatura por el PLN, en su tercer intento por llegar a la Presidencia" (in Spanish). La Nación. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
4. Mata, Esteban (2016). "21 hombres y una mujer tientan la presidencia para el 2018" (in Spanish). AM Prensa. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
5. ^ "Álvarez Desanti maintains in Liberation primary; late-night vote-counting drama". Tico Times. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
6. Redaccion. "Viral: Micrófono de Canal 13 queda abierto y vea lo que dijo Desanti" (in Spanish). La Prensa Libre. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
7. "Encuestas ponen a Figueres como candidato pero no como presidente". Noticias Costa Rica. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27.
8. ^ "Estudio Opinión Pública" (PDF). 2016.
9. Madrigal, Luis Manuel (2017). "Álvarez Desanti supera en 25 puntos a Figueres Olsen en intención de voto para convención del PLN". Mundo. Archived from the original on 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2017-03-15.

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