2013 Citizens' Action Party presidential primary explained

Election Name:Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2013
Country:Costa Rica
Type:primary
Vote Type:Popular
Previous Election:Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2009
Previous Year:2009
Election Date:July 21, 2013
Next Election:Citizens' Action Party presidential primary, 2017
Next Year:2017
Turnout:23.247
Nominee1:Luis Guillermo Solís
Party1:Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)
Popular Vote1:8.153
Percentage1:35.48%
Nominee2:Juan Carlos Mendoza
Party2:Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)
Popular Vote2:8.040
Percentage2:34.99%
Nominee3:Epsy Campbell
Party3:Citizens' Action Party (Costa Rica)
Popular Vote3:5.767
Percentage3:25.10%
Presidential Candidate
Before Election:Ottón Solís
After Election:Luis Guillermo Solís
Map Size:250px

PAC’s second presidential primary (known as Citizens' National Convention or Convención Nacional Ciudadana) was held on July 21, 2013 in order to elect the party’s presidential nominee for the 2014 Costa Rican general election. Unlike the previous election, this was an open primary and every citizen was able to vote as far as pledge written membership to the party before casting the vote.[1]

Three-time candidate and party’s founder Ottón Solís declined run for president for the fourth time opening the opportunity for new leaderships and the presidential nomination in one of Costa Rica’s major parties. Four candidates were able to enroll their names; former deputy and vice presidential candidate Epsy Campbell,[1] then deputy and former President of the Legislative Assembly Juan Carlos Mendoza,[1] former deputy Ronald Solís[1] and college professor Luis Guillermo Solís. None of the Solis were related. Other aspirants were businesswoman and former vice presidential nominee Monica Segnini, lawmaker Claudio Monge and former candidate in the previous primary and future ambassador in Washington Román Macaya, but all dropped their candidacies for different reasons.

Contrary to all expectations Luis Guillermos Solís won the election with 35% of the votes, only 113 votes more than Mendoza.[2] [3] Campbell, who was by far the frontrunner in all previous polls, achieved only 25% of the vote, and Solís Bolaños received 4%. Solís was declared PAC’s presidential candidate and would eventually won the 2014 presidential race in both rounds.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Font. Alberto. PAC's Luis Guillermo Solís launches presidential primary bid. 21 March 2016. The Tico Times. June 14, 2013.
  2. News: Vázquez-D'Elía. Javier. Costa Rica: Main Opposition Parties Define Candidates for 2014 Presidential Election. 21 March 2016. Panoramas. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309110450/http://www.panoramas.pitt.edu/content/costa-rica-main-opposition-parties-define-candidates-2014-presidential-election. 9 March 2014. dead. dmy-all.
  3. Book: Landfor. Tom. Political Handbook of the World 2015. 24 March 2015. 9781483371580. 21 March 2016.
  4. News: Leftist Luis Solis wins Costa Rican presidential poll. 21 March 2016. BBC. 7 April 2014.