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Costa Rica Set to Hold Runoff Presidential Vote VOA News 5 Feb 2002 00:43 UTC 
Costa Rica is preparing for its first-ever runoff presidential vote in April after the two main candidates from last Sunday's election failed to win an outright majority.
With more than 90 percent of the ballots counted, Abel Pacheco of the ruling Social Christian Unity Party had won about 39 percent of the vote, just short of the 40 percent needed for a first-round win.
His closest rival, Rolando Araya of the opposition National Liberation Army finished second with nearly 31 percent of the vote.
Otton Solis of the Citizen Action Party took just over 26 percent and was eliminated from the presidential race. Other candidates trailed far behind.
Mr. Pacheco and Mr. Araya will face each other April seventh in the runoff vote, which will be the first of its kind in Costa Rica's modern, democratic history.
The winner takes office May 8, replacing outgoing President Miguel Angel Rodriguez, who by law cannot seek a second term.
Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters and DPA.
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