In a very Shakespearean manner, the local weather has been reflecting the local apathy for the elections.  But, just as the Ticos seem to be heating up, meteorologists are predicting good weather on Sunday. Temperatures should range from 25 -28 degrees Celsius in most of the country.  The cold front predicted to hit tomorrow is not expected to arrive until after 5 pm.

In what is a tradition almost as much as flying flags with your party’s colors in every election, Ticos on Friday rushed to the supermarkets and liquor stores to stock up on beverages.  No beer, wine or liquor may be sold Saturday, Sunday or Monday in Costa Rica.  This is according to article 80 of the election code and is intended to eliminate brawls or people "buying votes" in cantinas.

Most ticos take the dry law in stride and stock up in advance "It is like a preventative measure ", argued one youth who was buying 18 cans of beer. "One for each candidate and 4 more for the road!", he said.

Gringo tourists who did not stock up will be in for a big shock on Super Bowl Sunday, as not even hotels with foreign clientele are allowed to sell booze on Sunday.  However, they may be able to find discrete points of sale in certain areas.  The penalty for selling alchohol on the dry days is 3 months to 2 years in jail. 

Costa Rica’s 53rd presidential election will be news worldwide.  735 press passes have been issued, although this number is less than in the last election. "These are the people who can enter the Tribunal on Sunday, but there could be more who are covering the news from the street and haven’t applied for a pass. "  explained Giannina Aguilar, journalist for the TSE (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones).

100 International observers will validate the process at different points nationwide. 40 were invited by the TSE and the other 60 came on their own initiative.

All of the parties and candidates are putting on a final show of confidence in preparing for election night results.  The only group who will not wine and dine supporters is the PAC, Otton Solis will go to the main headquarters in San Pedro to get the news of the first results. Alejandro Vargas, press spokesman, said "those who want to come, will be here and we don’t need to offer them food and drink as an incentive.

Otto Guevara will host a party in the San Jose Palacio, starting at 6 pm in the Greco Salon.  The event with music and emcees will be organized by individual supporters, so it won’t cost the party anything.

Oscar Aria will commandeer the Hotel Corobicí, which is the operations center for the green and white party this weekend, and will receive Óscar Arias at 6 p.m.  Almost the whole hotel will be at his service, in the meeting rooms they will have big screen TVs, which will broadcast results and musical groups that will be performing. Between 9 y 9:30 p.m. they will all move over to the party headquarters - the Balcón Verde in La Sabana - where they have set up a huge party with Gregory Cabrera, Gaviota y Marfil.

Antonio Álvarez Desanti, of UPC, will arrive at 6 p.m. to the hotel Aurola Holiday Inn. "We’ll have a DJ, refreshments and snacks.  We want it to be a real party" explained Jorge Arroyo, vice-presidential candidate. They will spend ¢2 millones.

Ricardo Toledo, of PUSC, will get the news in the hotel Irazú with good music, but no food.

On Friday the country started to finally get a little bit excited about election day.  Traditional shows of support for candidates, such as flag flying, horn honking and impromptu gatherings have been few and far between compared to years past. 

Candidates and public figures are urging people to vote, while polls and public demonstrations have the race tightening up more that at any previous point in the last year.

One final campaign barb was exchanged between Arias and Solis:

Arias assured the people that Sunday night he would call Solís, and the other candidates "to reconcile and tell them let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.  A second round would be catastrophic for the country, it won’t happen." Arias visited monseñor José Francisco Ulloa, President of the Episcopal de la Conference.

Solís, on a swing through Puriscal, replied "I believe we will win." and , responding to Arias’ projected call, agreed "this is the way it is done in all democracies. The losing candidate calls to congratulate the winner, so I will be happy to receive his call".

"Of course we will talk to other parties, but I am more interested in talking to unions, chambers and farmers, to begin the plan for growth. ", he added.

Interesting E-day Numbers:

2.550.613

Ticos may vote. (1,275,557 women).

6,163

polling places nationwide.

11, 000

police are under control of the TSE during elections and will maintain order.

57

representatives for the legislature and 1,002 council members will also be elected Sunday

8:45 pm

on Sunday Night, the TSE will divulge the first tally.

Some of the 120 drivers that work for Taxis Unidos, which has exclusive pick up rights at the Juan Santamaria Terminal, are upset with the company because their monthly commission will be reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, under a proposal being studied by the Labor Ministry. The cut would be during high season only.

"These are the only taxi drivers who get free uniforms, salaries, overtime, vacations, and aguinaldo" said Mario Bogantes, Operations Manager of Taxis Unidos. Some drivers were interviewed, but did not give their names for fear of reprisals.  "We make only 11,200 per day.  With this reduction we would lose up to 65,000 colones per month. Nobody asked us about this, and actually we only have heard about it through the grapevine, no one from the company has made a statement or explained why.

On Friday the campaign closed with the last polls showing the tightest race yet. Ottón Solís has upped his numbers and Óscar Arias has lost ground, putting in serious doubt for the first time the chance of a winner being declared on Sunday. Both candidates assure that they will win on Sunday.

Accusations flew in the final ads and declarations for both candidates.

Óscar Arias
Accused PAC of using dirty campaign tactics in the latest ads: Showing footage of Arias with Noriega in 1982 - 1984 (before narcotics trafficking charges came to light) and a universty professor stating that poverty rose during his presidency.  Responding to declarations by Solís that he will win on Sunday, Arias said he has more faith than Saint Roch.
(according to Wikipedia (Legenda Aurea) - he was born in Montpellier France about 1295, the son of the noble governor of that city. Even his birth was accounted a miracle for his mother had been barren until she prayed to the Virgin Mary. Miraculously marked from birth with a red cross on his breast that grew as he did, he early began to manifest strict asceticism and great devoutness; on days when his "devout mother fasted twice in the week, and the blessed child Rocke abstained him twice also, when his mother fasted in the week, and would suck his mother but once that day" )
 
Ottón Solís
Accused people of responding to polls falsely, in hopes of gaining favor in the event that Arias does win.  Responding to the "Saint Roch" remark, " Arias is right, I am a believer, I have a lot of faith. " Responding to the dirty campaigning allegations " On my part, no.  He refused to debate, in a impolite fashion, had is vice-presidential candidate attack me, and now he does it in ads. He knows that his support is weakening, and since he doesn’t have ideas and arguments, he attacks when only 2 days are left, when we can’t defend ourselves. That is the way the old style politicians are." 

All the candidates made their final financial and medical declarations to the TSE.

Assets - Oscar Arias

Income: As ex-president has a monthly pension of ¢1,087,208 (after taxes); monthly stipend from Agropecuaria La Lillyana S.A. of ¢227,441 y annual dividends Ingenio Taboga of ¢20 million.

Propiedades: Use of 3 properties, including his residence in Rohrmoser. 3 farms.

Vehículos: Jeep 2005, BMW 2001 y Nissan Almera 2003.

Sociedades: Shares in Grupo Consolidado Sama y en Corporación Adral, which is the owner of Ingenio Taboga, Inversiones La Lillyana, Montarás del Norte, Futuros Oras.

Cuentas: 4 bank accounts worth ¢1.3 million and $8.175.

Medical Checkup

Did not file, nor did his doctor.  His press office said  "don Óscar is very fit".

Assets - Otton Solís

Ingresos: ¢983,600 monthly income, produced by the rental of a building in Pérez Zeledón.

Properties: Six properties in his name. Including his house, a lot of 1,470 m2 in Pérez Zeledón (¢10 million), and a property in Pérez Zeledón, land worth ¢19 million, building and improvements worth ¢31.5 million. The 6 properties together have 10,476 meters of construction and are worth ¢145.9 million.

Vehicles: Mitsubishi Montero 1994, ¢3.8 million.

Comapnies: Shares in three family businesses and 1 agricultural company.

Cuentas: 1 bank account in Banco de Costa Rica por ¢232,581.

Medical Checkup 

Age: 51 years.

Blood Pressure: Normal.

Cholesterol: Normal.

Glycemia: Normal.

Uric Acid: Normal.

Rectal Probe renal: Normal.

Weight: 80 kilos, adequate.

Activities: Walks, cycles and excercises.

Last Exam: December, 2005.

Doctor: Humberto Solís.

Electoral Agenda - Friday

Liberación Nacional

Óscar Arias, interview with Monumental Radio 8 a.m. Meetings and private audiences with party officials. 

Partido Acción Ciudadana

Ottón Solís, town hall meeting in Puriscal, 2 p.m.; encounter with the elderly in Press Association, 6 p.m.

Movimiento Libertario

Otto Guevara, 9 a.m. tour of Alajuela. 12:30 p.m. lunch in Alajuela market. 3 p.m. tour of Desamparados.

Unión para el cambio

Antonio Álvarez, press conference in the morning. Afternoon visits to UPC clubs in Central Valley.

Unidad Social Cristiana

Ricardo Toledo, 8:30 a.m. tour via airplane of entire Northern Zone: Los Chiles, Upala y Guatuso.