Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 6 February 2018

Evangelical, ruling party candidate eye runoff in Costa Rica

that would take place April ticians: Never again mess
1. The race was shaken up with the family, never again
by a January decision by mess with our children,” he
the Inter-American Court added.
of Human Rights that said Both he and Carlos Alvara-
Costa Rica should allow do appealed to backers of
same-sex couples to wed, other candidates for sup-
adopt children and enjoy port in the runoff.
other rights afforded to “Anyone who believes they
married couples. can govern alone is mistak-
Fabricio Alvarado, a jour- en,” Carlos Alvarado said.
nalist, preacher and Chris- “They need the support of
tian singer, vaulted from many people. That must
an also-ran in opinion polls be the task that guides us
after he called the ruling a in the coming days and
“sovereign violation” and weeks on a path to win this
suggested he would seek election.”
to withdraw from the OAS- A journalist by training, Car-
sponsored court, which is los Alvarado got his start in
hosted in Costa Rica’s own politics as communications
capital, San Jose. director for the governing
A recent poll said about Citizens’ Action Party and
two-thirds of Costa Ricans also was labor minister un-
Presidential candidate Fabricio Alvarado, with the National Restoration party, gives a thumbs-up oppose same-sex mar- der current President Luis
as he’s surrounded by the press at a polling station during general elections in San Jose, Costa riage. The country is ma- Guillermo Solis.
Rica, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. jority Roman Catholic with With so many candidates,
(AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) an increasing evangelical a runoff seemed likely
By JAVIER CORDOBA nation’s next leader. With are not related. population. heading into the election.
Associated Press 94 percent of the ballots Agri-businessman Antonio “Costa Rica no longer Alvarez, a two-time presi-
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) counted Monday, Fabri- Alvarez of the opposition wants more of the same, dent of the Legislative As-
— Two candidates with cio Alvarado, an evangeli- National Liberation Party, the same political cam- sembly and a Cabinet
the same last name and cal whose political stock who was in third with 18.6 paigns as always,” Fabri- minister under the first presi-
opposing stances on gay soared after he came out percent, conceded defeat cio Alvarado said in cel- dency of Oscar Arias in
marriage, an issue that strongly against same-sex and congratulated the two ebrating the result. “I join a 1986-1990, opposed gay
came to dominate Costa marriage, had 24.9 percent front-runners. movement of unity, of val- marriage but backed rec-
Rica’s presidential cam- of the vote. Costa Rican election rules ues, of innovation. As you ognition for certain other
paign, led election returns Carlos Alvarado, the only say that if no one in the have seen, this has been a rights for gay couples.
and appear headed to a major candidate to sup- 13-candidate field finishes different campaign.” “I am the one responsible
runoff to decide who will port gay marriage, had above 40 percent, the top “Costa Rica has made it for the electoral result,” Al-
be the Central American 21.7 percent. The two men two advance to a runoff clear to the traditional poli- varez said late Sunday.q

Ecuador referendum boosts president in battle with ex-mentor

By GONZALO SOLANO fael Correa from returning Correa, analysts say he has protege of Correa until tak- phant Moreno said in tele-
Associated Press to power. The measure was stopped short of instituting ing office last year, hailed vised remarks with his Cabi-
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — With approved by an almost the sort of economic re- the results as a triumph for net at the presidential pal-
a fresh victory in hand, Ec- 2-to-1 margin, sending the forms needed to jumpstart Ecuador’s democracy, ace. “It’s time to embrace
uadoreans will be looking strongest signal yet that the a sluggish economy. He while Correa warned they each other.”
for President Lenin Moreno Andean nation is ready to also remains dependent on would usher in a new pe- Correa tried to put a posi-
to move beyond the politi- shift gears away from Cor- Correa’s allies in congress riod of instability. The two tive spin on the results, say-
cal duel with his domineer- rea, the leftist strongman to usher through legislation. men have been feuding ing the 36 percent of voters
ing predecessor and focus who has dominated the “He’s now put behind him, bitterly almost since More- opposing term limits show
his attention on the nation’s nation’s politics over the in large part, this ongo- no took office last year and that his political movement
stagnant economy. last decade. But how far ing political battle,” said quickly extended an olive remains the most-domi-
Ecuadoreans voted by a Moreno will diverge from Eurasia Group analyst Risa branch to business lead- nant in Ecuador. To prevail,
landslide in a nationwide Correa’s agenda remains Grais-Targow. “From here, ers, indigenous groups and Moreno relied heavily on
referendum Sunday to to be seen. the government will now others who were bullied by an alliance with conser-
limit presidents to just one While Moreno has begun need to turn its attention Correa during his rule. vative opposition parties
re-election, barring three- building bridges with the back to its economic agen- “The days of confrontation whose support going for-
time former President Ra- private sector shunned by da.” Moreno, who was a are behind us,” a trium- ward may be in doubt. q