1990 Costa Rican general election

General elections were held in Costa Rica on 4 February 1990.[1] Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier of the Social Christian Unity Party won the presidential election, whilst his party also won the parliamentary election. Voter turnout was 81.8%.[2]

1990 Costa Rica general election

4 February 1990 (1990-02-04)
Turnout	81.8%
Presidential election
Candidate Rafael Ángel Calderón Carlos Manuel Castillo Party PUSC PLN Popular vote 694,589 636,701 Percentage 51.5% 47.2%
Provinces won by Calderón
President before election Oscar Arias PLN Elected President Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier PUSC
Legislative election
Party Leader % Seats ± PUSC Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier 46.2% 29 +4 PLN Carlos Manuel Castillo 41.9% 25 -4 PU Víctor Daniel Camacho Monge 2.4% 1 +1 PUGEN Carlos Alberto Fernández Vega 2.4% 1 +1 PUAC Juan Guillermo Brenes Castillo 1.1% 1 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Unlike previous elections, Calderon's nomination was not undisputed. Despite expressing that he would not run again for President after the results of the previous race, he was eventually convinced by his followers. Yet, young former minister and business man Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría from the liberal faction inside PUSC choose to face Calderón at the primaries.[3][4] Former deputy José Hine from PUSC's left wing also run with testimonial results.

Despite the fact that Rodríguez clearly had no chance against Calderón, his candidacy was considered a smart move, as he would start to be in the spotlight and helping his way in future nominations.[5] As expected, Calderón won the primary election with 75% of the votes. On the other sidewalk former vice president Carlos Manuel Castillo won over young minister Rolando Araya Monge (nephew of ex-president Luis Alberto Monge) in PLN's primaries after a very hostile and traumatic campaign, in which Castillo even accused Araya of links with Narcotraffic, something that weakened PLN.[6] Minor parties proliferated in this election, with up to 12 different parties taking part, of which only left-wing coalition United People having some relevance with sociologist Victor Daniel Camacho as nominee earning 3% of the votes.

Results

President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier	Social Christian Unity Party	694,589	51.5
Carlos Manuel Castillo Morales	National Liberation Party	636,701	47.2
Víctor Daniel Camacho Monge	United People	9,217	0.7
Fernando Ramírez Muñoz	Christian National Alliance	4,209	0.3
Isaac Felipe Azofeifa	Progress Party	2,547	0.2
Edwin Badilla Agüero	Militant Workers Revolutionary Party	1,005	0.1
Rodrigo Alberto Cordero Víquez	Independent Party	746	0.1
Invalid/blank votes		35,312	-
Total		1,384,326	100
Source: Nohlen

Parliament

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/-
Social Christian Unity Party	617,478	46.2	29	+4
National Liberation Party	559,632	41.9	25	-4
United People	44,161	3.3	1	0
Generaleña Union	32,292	2.4	1	+1
Christian National Alliance	22,154	1.6	0	0
Cartago Agrarian Union Party	14,190	1.1	1	0
National Independent Party	10,643	0.8	0	New
Progress Party	7,733	0.6	0	New
Partido Alajuelense Solidario	7,330	0.5	0	-1
Independent Party	5,566	0.4	0	0
Limonese Authentic Party	4,901	0.4	0	0
Agrarian Labour Action Party	4,756	0.4	0	New
Partido Agrario Nacional	4,594	0.3	0	New
Militant Workers Revolutionary Party	742	0.1	0	New
Invalid/blank votes	47,784	-	-	-
Total	1,383,956	100	57	0
Source: Nohlen

Ballot

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References

1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p155 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
2. Nohlen, p157
3. Láscaris, Constantino (1965). "El desarrollo de las Ideas Filosóficas en Costa Rica". Retrieved 2019-09-16.
4. "Rodríguez: balance final". La Nacion.
5. Picado Leon, Hugo. "Proceso de selección de candid atos a presidente y diputados en el PLN y el PUSC (1990-2006)" (PDF). OPAL.
6. Fernández, Oscar. "Costa Rica. La reafirmación del bipartidismo". Revista Nueva Sociedad. No.131: 4–10.