Voting is under way in Costa Rica's presidential election after a campaign dominated by same-sex marriage.
Last month, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights based in Costa Rica ruled such alliances should be recognised.
The court's decision led to a backlash in the Central American country.
A conservative Christian evangelical preacher who has campaigned against same-sex marriage has become the most popular candidate.
In recent weeks, preacher Fabricio Alvarado surged to the top of opinion polls, campaigning against same-sex marriage.
In all, 13 candidates are running to replace President Luis Guillermo Solis of the centre-left Citizen's Action Party.
Mr Alvarado represents the right-wing National Restoration Party.
He has gone from also-ran, with just 2% support, to the leading candidate with 17% in a crowded field, according to a poll released on 31 January by the University of Costa Rica.
However, more than a third of the electorate appear to be undecided.
A run-off on 1 April seems certain as no candidate is likely to win the 40% of the vote required to win in the first round.
The other frontrunners are former lawmaker Antonio Alvarez from the centre-right National Liberation Party, former Security and Justice Minister Juan Diego Castro from the National Integration Party, and Rodolfo Piza from the Social Christian Unity Party.
SOURCE: BBC News
No comments:
Post a Comment