Costa Rica elections on course for runoff

(Vatican Radio) Costa Rica's Presidential Election is headed directly for a runoff on April 6th, as none of the main Candidates has won an outright victory.

None of the 13 Candidates managed to gain the 40 percent or more necessary to win in this first round. However the surprise is that leftist Luis Guillermo Solis who is running an anti-corruption campaign, is slightly ahead of the ruling National Liberation Party's Johnny Araya, with leftist legislator Jose Maria Villalta of the Broad front in third place.

Three million are registered to vote in a population of just over six million in Central America's second largest economy. Whoever finally wins will serve as President for four years. Two Vice Presidents will be elected plus Deputies for the Legislative Assembly.

The question now is who can form a winning alliance or combination for round two.

Listen to James Blears’ report: