EscucharSAN JOSE - Both the Social Christian candidate, Miguel Angel Rodríguez, and the Social Democrat, José Miguel Corrales, asserted yesterday that they will be elected President of Costa Rica in today's general elections.
Rodríguez, of the opposition Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC in Spanish), and Corrales, of the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN in Spanish), claimed that the last few hours of the campaign point to the fact that each has enough support as to forecast victory.
Corrales, 59, said that the polls that place him below Rodríguez reflect a given moment, which might have changed since opinions were collected last week, even though they were disclosed last Wednesday and Thursday.
``If the undecided, who belong to the PLN, support us, as we believe they are doing, we will win the election,'' Corrales told foreign press correspondents.
Rodríguez, whom the polls show as the likely winner, said he was ``very optimistic'' about the support he has received.
``However, I must point out, the votes have not yet been counted, and that is the ultimate poll,'' stated the PUSC candidate, 58, an economist and a lawyer. Although 11 other parties have presidential candidates, they have no chance of winning the election, analysts assert.
Region
Corrales and Rodríguez stated opposition to the political union of Central America, but both agree on continuing the economic integration process.
On the eve of today's election, the two leading candidates also agreed on the rejection of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN in Spanish), of which Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have been members since 1991.
Corrales asserted that political union, the way it has been proposed by Honduras and El Salvador, ``is not sound reasoning, because we are talking about countries with very different idiosyncrasies and political and social experiences.''
The PLN presidential candidate added: ``We must get together to fight jointly, because on the other hand we cannot be competitive, since we are very little countries, but I do not agree with the political union.''
Rodríguez mentioned the prolonged process of the European Union as an example of the difficulties of political union, ``a road that Central America has not walked yet.''
The PUSC candidate added that ``Central America must strengthen free trade and open itself to the incorporation of Panama and the Dominican Republic'' to its integrated market.
Regarding PARLACEN, Rodríguez pointed out that Costa Ricans have repeatedly stated their opposition to that organization.
While in favor of Central America acting as a bloc in the international community, Rodríguez also remarked that Costa Rica will also negotiate any bilateral free trade agreement.
Cuba
Both Rodríguez and Corrales agreed that if elected neither would resume diplomatic relations with Cuba, but they also stated opposition at the U.S. embargo against the island.
Rodríguez asserted ``I would love to have relations with Cuba, but first there must be a domestic (on the island) democratic process and observance of human rights.''
Corrales warned that as long as human rights are not observed and as long as there is no democratic opening in Cuba, there is no chance of establishing relations with the island.
About the embargo, Corrales stated that he is against it because the Cuban people are the victims, ``they are footing the bill with more poverty.''
