Arias Wins Recount Of Costa Rican Vote,
Boosting Cafta Hope

By John Lyons

Oscar Arias, the Nobel Peace Prize winner seeking Costa Rica's presidency for the second time, has won a hand recount of ballots in this month's photo-finish election, increasing the likelihood the nation will join a regional free-trade pact with the U.S.

A recount was necessary after Mr. Arias's main challenger, who made opposition to the free-trade pact the center of his campaign, achieved surprising support and garnered enough votes to pull into a virtual tie with Mr. Arias, who supports the plan.

All the same, the heated debate over the trade deal in one of the region's oldest democracies and closest U.S. allies may provide political ammunition to critics of free trade in the U.S. and Latin America. The Congress in Costa Rica, one of six nations to sign the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., has yet to ratify the accord. It has yet to go into effect as several countries so far haven't completed necessary administrative and legal changes.

In an interview, Mr. Arias recognized that the closer-than-expected vote had weakened his ability to push the agreement through Congress. His center-right National Liberation Party didn't win the outright legislative majority that some analysts expected it to achieve.

"We are going to have to negotiate with the other parties in Congress," Mr. Arias said. Recent allegations of corruption against past Costa Rican presidents hurt his campaign, Mr. Arias said, because he is an establishment figure and was running against a newcomer.

Mr. Arias received about 18,000 more votes than Otton Solis, the Associated Press reported, in a tally the candidates' camps confirmed. Election authorities, however, have yet to declare a winner while they rule on hundreds of complaints of voting irregularities.

An official declaration is expected in about a week, and Mr. Solis said he would wait for the process to be completed before deciding whether to concede.

Source: Wall Street Journal