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1998 Costa Rican general election
Presidential election
Results by canton
Legislative election
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
General elections were held in Costa Rica on 1 February 1998.[ 2] Miguel Ángel Rodríguez of the Social Christian Unity Party won the presidential election, whilst his party also won the parliamentary election. Voter turnout was 70%, the lowest since the 1950s.[ 3]
An economic recession, a teachers' strike due to a pensions' reform and some corruption scandals made President José María Figueres ' government highly unpopular. Thus, government endorsed candidate José Miguel Corrales tried to distance himself from Figueres as much as possible. Corrales won over former President of Congress Jorge Walter Coto Molina in PLN's primaries but the discovery of Voter fraud damaged PLN's image and split the party.[ 4] On the contrary in PUSC, previous candidate Miguel Ángel Rodríguez was seen as the natural nominee for this election, and despite the fact that deputy Luis Fishman was rumored as a possible internal opponent, he finally declined and Rodríguez was nominated without the need of primaries, thus keeping the party united. During Figueres' administration the so call Figueres-Calderón Pact was signed between the leaders of the two main parties (and sons of the two caudillos of the 1948 civil war ); him and Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier (Rodríguez political rival) to approve several mutually beneficial laws for both major parties, something that caused outrage among large segments of the population and started the downfall of the two-party system .[ 5]
Results
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría
Social Christian Unity Party
652,160
46.96
José Miguel Corrales Bolaños
National Liberation Party
618,834
44.56
Vladimir de la Cruz de Lemos
Democratic Force
41,710
3.00
Walter Muñoz Céspedes
National Integration Party
19,934
1.44
Sherman Thomas Jackson
Costa Rican Renewal Party
19,313
1.39
Álvaro González Espinoza
Democratic Party
12,952
0.93
Federico Malavassi Calvo
Libertarian Movement
5,874
0.42
Jorge González Martén
National Independent Partyes
4,218
0.30
Alejandro Madrigal Benavides
Christian National Alliancees
3,545
0.26
Norma Vargas Duarte
United People
3,075
0.22
Rodrigo Gutiérrez Schwanhäuser
New Democratic Party
3,025
0.22
Marina Volio Brenes
National Rescue Party
2,681
0.19
Yolanda Gutiérrez Ventura
Independent Party
1,377
0.10
Invalid/blank votes
43,215
–
Total
1,431,913
100
Registered voters/turnout
2,045,980
69.99
Source: Nohlen; TSE
By province
Province
Rodríguez %
Corrales %
de la Cruz %
Muñoz %
Thomas %
González %
Malavassi %
Other %
San José
42.94
46.72
3.33
2.16
1.81
1.15
0.58
1.31
Alajuela
46.86
45.67
3.13
0.96
1.21
0.92
0.30
0.95
Cartago
44.35
47.69
3.16
1.37
0.81
0.99
0.29
1.34
Heredia
43.39
46.35
3.45
1.63
2.12
1.41
0.35
1.30
Guanacaste
55.63
40.61
1.76
0.30
0.58
0.14
0.15
0.83
Puntarenas
56.23
38.57
1.88
0.47
0.52
0.26
0.40
1.67
Limón
59.58
32.18
2.62
0.88
1.51
0.63
0.54
2.06
Total
46.96
44.56
3.00
1.44
1.39
0.93
0.42
1.30
Popular Vote
Social Christian Unity
46.96%
National Liberation
44.56%
Democratic Force
3.00%
National Integration
1.44%
Costa Rican Renewal
1.39%
Democratic
0.93%
Libertarian Movement
0.42%
Other
1.30%
Parliament
The country was for the time still under a heavy two-party system dynamics[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] and the two main parties at the time; National Liberation Party and Social Christian Unity Party won most of the votes. Nevertheless, some third forces also won seats on the Parliament, among them left-wing Democratic Force won two seats. It was also the first time that liberal Libertarian Movement and Christian conservative [ 9] Costa Rican Renewal won seats (one each) in the Parliament both for their future presidential candidates Otto Guevara and Justo Orozco respectively. The small party National Integration Party led by medic Walter Muñoz won its only seat in history until the 2018 election.
Popular Vote
Social Christian Unity
41.18%
National Liberation
34.83%
Democratic Force
5.77%
Libertarian Movement
3.08%
National Integration
2.78%
Costa Rican Renewal
2.02%
Democratic
1.23%
Agrarian Labour Action
1.23%
United People
1.09%
Nat. Independent
0.92%
Other
5.87%
Seats
Social Christian Unity
47.37%
National Liberation
40.35%
Democratic Force
5.26%
Libertarian Movement
1.75%
National Integration
1.75%
Costa Rican Renewal
1.75%
Agrarian Labour Action
1.75%
Party
Votes
%
Seats
+/–
Social Christian Unity Party
569,792
41.18
27
+2
National Liberation Party
481,933
34.83
23
-5
Democratic Force
79,826
5.77
3
+1
Libertarian Movement
42,640
3.08
1
New
National Integration Party
38,408
2.78
1
New
Costa Rican Renewal Party
27,892
2.02
1
New
Democratic Party
17,060
1.23
0
New
Agrarian Labour Action Party
16,955
1.23
1
+1
United People
15,028
1.09
0
0
National Independent Partyes
12,794
0.92
0
0
General Union Partyes
12,583
0.91
0
0
New Democratic Party
12,476
0.90
0
New
National Rescue Party
9,588
0.69
0
New
Christian National Alliancees
9,176
0.66
0
0
National Agrarian Party
7,497
0.54
0
-1
Cartago Agrarian Union Party
7,138
0.52
0
-1
Alajuelense Democratic Action
6,614
0.48
0
0
Independent Party
6,025
0.44
0
0
Change Now
2,223
0.16
0
New
National Convergence Party
2,197
0.16
0
0
Limonese Authentic Party
2,167
0.16
0
0
Cartago Agrarian Force
1,892
0.14
0
New
Independent Guanacaste Party
1,623
0.12
0
0
Invalid/blank votes
47,052
–
–
–
Total
1,415,319
100
57
0
Registered voters/turnout
1,881,348
69.99
–
–
Source: TSE ; Election Resources
By province
Province
PUSC
PLN
FD
ML
PIN
PRC
PD
PU
Others
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
San José
37.60
8
36.21
8
7.31
2
4.64
1
4.69
1
2.44
1
1.60
0
0.88
0
4.63
0
Alajuela
40.89
4
35.52
4
5.20
1
1.40
0
1.30
0
1.38
0
1.08
0
0.41
0
12.82
1
Cartago
39.39
3
36.49
3
5.14
0
1.71
0
2.08
0
0.97
0
1.15
0
1.75
0
11.32
0
Heredia
39.20
3
35.85
2
7.12
0
2.45
0
3.22
0
2.48
0
1.76
0
1.12
0
6.80
0
Guanacaste
50.05
3
33.66
2
4.19
0
1.08
0
0.55
0
3.10
0
0.21
0
0.62
0
6.54
0
Puntarenas
50.50
4
32.42
2
3.05
0
3.95
0
0.97
0
1.16
0
0.70
0
1.60
0
5.65
0
Limón
47.71
2
24.30
2
2.70
0
3.29
0
1.11
0
2.49
0
0.74
0
2.88
0
14.78
0
Total
41.18
27
34.83
23
5.77
3
3.08
1
2.78
1
2.02
1
1.23
0
1.09
0
8.02
1
Local governments
Alderpeople
Social Christian Unity
46.89%
National Liberation
39.10%
Regionalist
4.84%
Democratic Force
4.15%
Libertarian Movement
0.69%
National Integration
0.52%
General Union
0.52%
Independent
0.52%
National Rescue
0.35%
National Independent
0.35%
New Democratic
0.35%
United People
0.17%
Municipal Syndics
Social Christian Unity
66.00%
National Liberation
32.44%
Regionalist
1.56%
Parties
Popular vote
Alderpeople
Municipal Syndics
Votes
%
±pp
Total
+/-
Total
+/-
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
564,531
40.86
-0.65
271
+39
295
+190
National Liberation Party (PLN)
488,870
35.38
-10.98
226
-43
145
-178
Democratic Force (FD)
85,313
6.17
+1.27
24
+2
0
0
Libertarian Movement (ML)
33,544
2.43
New
4
New
0
New
Costa Rican Renewal Party (PRC)
25,654
1.86
New
0
New
0
New
National Integration Party (PIN)
23,896
1.73
New
3
New
0
New
Democratic Party (PD)
19,204
1.39
New
0
New
0
New
Agrarian Labour Action Party (PALA)
15,157
1.10
+0.76
7
+7
2
+2
National Independent Party (PNI)
14,975
1.08
+0.49
2
+2
0
0
General Union Party (PUG)
13,378
0.99
-0.65
3
-1
0
0
New Democratic Party (NPD)
12,804
0.93
New
2
New
0
New
United People (UP)
12,216
0.88
+0.88
1
+1
0
0
National Rescue Party (PRESNA)
11,385
0.82
New
2
New
0
New
Escazu's Progressive Yoke (YPE)
9,699
0.70
New
4
New
3
New
Independent Party (PI)
8,095
0.59
+0.18
3
+3
0
0
National Agrarian Party (PAN)
7,827
0.57
-0.56
5
-2
0
0
21st Century Curridabat (CSXXI)
5,117
0.37
New
2
New
1
New
National Convergence Party (PCN)
4,044
0.29
+0.05
1
+1
0
0
Alajuelense Democratic Action (PADA)
4,027
0.29
-0.49
1
-2
0
0
Party of the Sun (PdS)
3,628
0.26
New
2
New
2
New
Christian National Alliance (ANC)
2,787
0.20
+0.20
0
0
0
0
Independent Guanacaste Party (PGI)
2,610
0.19
-0.14
2
0
0
0
Cartago Agrarian Force (FAC)
2,430
0.18
New
0
New
0
New
Limonense Authentic Party (PAL)
1,871
0.14
-0.17
1
0
0
0
Humanist Party of Montes de Oca (PH-MdO)
1,870
0.14
New
1
New
0
New
Change Now (CYA)
1,790
0.13
New
0
New
0
New
Independent Belemite Party (PIB)
1,386
0.10
New
1
New
0
New
New Alajuelita Party (PALNU)
1,350
0.10
-0.07
1
0
0
0
Humanist Party of Heredia (PH-Her)
1,128
0.08
New
0
New
0
New
Golfitenean Action Party (PAGOL)
694
0.05
New
0
New
0
New
Total
1,380,833
100.00
-
578
+34
447
+19
Invalid votes
49,341
3.45
Votes cast / turnout
1,430,174
69.99
Abstentions
614,999
30.01
Registered voters
2,045,173
100%
Sources[ 10]
References
^ "February 1,Election Results - Costa Rica Totals" . Election Resources . Retrieved 13 March 2016 .
^ Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I , p155 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
^ Nohlen, pp156-157
^ Fernández, Oscar Costa Rica. La reafirmación del bipartidismo Revista Nueva Sociedad No.131, PP. 4-10
^ "Copia archivada" . Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013 .
^ Landsford, Tom (20 March 2014). Political Handbook of the World 2014 . ISBN 9781483386263 . Retrieved 13 March 2016 .
^ Landsford, Tom (2 April 2012). Political Handbook of the World 2012 . ISBN 9781608719952 . Retrieved 13 March 2016 .
^ Greenspana, Eliot; Gill, Nicholas; O'Malley, Charlie; Gilsenan, Patrick; Perill, Jisel. Elecciones legislativas de Costa Rica de 2002 .
^ Lopez, Jaime (July 18, 2013). "Civic Groups Move Against Gay Marriage in Costa Rica" . Costa Rica Star. Retrieved 13 March 2016 .
^ "Elecciones Regidurías 1998" . tse.go.cr (in Spanish). Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. Retrieved 21 May 2020 .