Former president takes early lead in Costa Rican election

By JAVIER CÓRDOBA
Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in national election in what had been a wide-open field of 25 candidates. José María Figueres, who was the country’s president from 1994 to 1998, had 30.3% of the vote in preliminary results released by the Supreme Elections Tribunal Sunday night with 13% of the votes counted. Figueres is the candidate for the National Liberation Party. If no candidate captures at least 40% of the vote, a runoff vote will be held April 3 between the top two candidates. Figueres was trailed by Fabricio Alvarado, who lost to President Carlos Alvarado four years ago, with 17.9%.