Election Day in Costa Rica is quite the event. Not long ago, Costa Rica was proud to claim that nearly 100% of their citizens (Ticos) voted on election day. Not so anymore. Ticos are disillusioned by the fact they haven’t had a good president in a while. Not to mention the last two (before the current president, Pacheco) spent time in jail this year on corruption charges.

Still, people find a way to make a celebration out of the day. A bit of a glitch in the system, people are required to travel to their place of birth in order to vote. So the roads are crowded and many free buses (paid for by the political parties) deliver voters cross-country. Kids vote in mock elections, vendors are selling food on the streets, and parades of cars with flags honking their horns can be found on every street.

This year the polls suggest Oscar Arias will be the winner. We’ll find out soon! Arias 65, a free market moderate, has held the lead in polls for months. Formerly president of Costa Rica during 1986-1990, Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in bringing an end to the fighting and wars in the region (especially Nicaragua).

It seems people held a lot of respect for Arias back when he was in office. Now that their has been a long history of lousy presidents, they long to see someone in office for whom they can be proud.

Arias is strongly in favor of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) and, no doubt, make that his first priority in office. Such a shame too. It’s going to make a mess out of this country.