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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Conservative Economist Wins Costa Rican Election

Compiled From Wire Services

Costa Ricans who blamed the president for ruining the economy chose a conservative economist Sunday from the main opposition party as their next president.

“It’s a big responsibility,” Miguel Angel Rodriguez said after early results indicated he had won the presidency. “We have to take Costa Rica onto the bridge toward progress.”

According to early results, Rodriguez of the Social Christian Unity Party had 47.9 percent of the vote, compared with 45.8 percent for Jose Miguel Corrales of the National Liberation Party.

Election officials did not say how many of the ballots had been counted or what percentage of the country’s 2 million registered voters cast ballots.

Corrales of the National Liberation Party conceded defeat in a speech and congratulated Rodriguez on his victory.

Residents of San Jose poured into the streets waving red-and-blue flags, celebrating Rodriguez’s victory.