Faces of Costa Rica

Two political parties have dominated Costa Rican politics since 1949: the social democratic National Liberation Party (PLN) and the more conservative Social Christian Party (PUSC). Costa Ricans have consistently elected presidents from these two parties.

The results of the 2002 presidential elections suggest Costa Ricans are looking for change. Candidate Otto Solis of the Citizen's Action Party (PAC) came in third with more than 26 percent of the vote. Costa Rica held its first runoff election in history because no candidate received 50 percent of the vote. Abel Pacheco (PUSC), won the runoff election. The election also represented the first time since 1949 that the incumbent party kept the presidency.

While the president have always come from the PLN or PUSC, this is not true for the country's 57-seat legislature which also includes 13 representatives from Citizens' Action Party (PAC), seven members from Liberation Movement Party (PML) and one representative from Costa Rica Renewal (PRC). However, PUSC and PLN still hold the majority of seats, with 19 and 17 seats.

• Social Christian Party (PUSC)
• National Liberation Party (PLN)
• Citizen's Action Party (PAC)