SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Conservative evangelical Christian singer Fabricio Alvarado Munoz will face a center-left ruling party candidate in a runoff for Costa Rica’s presidency in April, after winning a first round on Sunday by sharply opposing gay marriage.

The 43-year-old Alvarado Munoz, the lone elected lawmaker for the evangelical National Restoration Party, shot to prominence as a candidate after denouncing a court ruling calling on Costa Rica to give civil marriage rights to same-sex couples.

“We propose the sovereignty of the family as the fundamental basis of society,” Alvarado Munoz told supporters blowing plastic horns after the results were announced.

“Costa Rica has sent a message to traditional parties - never again will they meddle with the family.”

With ruling-party contender Carlos Alvarado Quesada supporting gay marriage, the April 1 runoff looks set to effectively be a referendum on an issue that has polarized a country known for a laid back culture and its pristine nature.

The election could also be a taste of things to come in Latin America, where non-traditional candidates and outsiders are likely to make waves as around two-thirds of the region’s population chooses new governments this year.

Despite a history of progressive social policies, most Costa Ricans identify themselves as conservative, and evangelical Christianity has emerged as a religious and political force in recent years, reflecting similar changes across Latin America.

With results in from more than 80 percent of ballot boxes, Alvarado Munoz had 24.8 percent of the vote, while Alvarado Quesada had 21.6 percent. The two men are not related.

Fabricio Alvarado, presidential candidate of the National Restoration party (PRN), speaks to his supporters next to his wife Laura Moscoa during a rally after Costa Rica's presidential election in San Jose, Costa Rica February 4, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

Under Costa Rica’s electoral rules a runoff vote takes place if no candidate reaches 40 percent support in the first round. The candidate with the third most votes, Antonio Alvarez Desanti, conceded on Sunday evening.

TRADITIONAL VALUES

Alvarado Munoz called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values. He has threatened to pull Costa Rica out of the court, which is based in the capital, San Jose.

The coffee exporting country famed for its environmental stewardship has long offered a moderate two-party system and more stability than other countries in politically volatile Central America.

The shift in support towards issue-based politics and relative outsiders has been a shock for some of Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters.

“I’ve been surprised by the growth of minority parties,” said voter Olman Gomez, 49, a computer network engineer. “It feels like you’re living in another country in terms of politics.”

A former labor minister under President Luis Guillermo Solis, British-educated Alvarado Quesada, 38, said on Sunday that he wanted to give Costa Rica the best education system in Latin America and reiterated his support for civil rights.

“The Costa Rica of the 21st century requires a government that knows how to move forward with vigor, love, happiness (and) the agenda of equality,” Quesada told jubilant supporters against a backdrop of loud rock music.

Slideshow (18 Images)

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity fall as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second consecutive term.</s>SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Ricans went to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president in a race upended by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently gained ground in Latin America.

Conservative Christian singer and TV anchor Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field after denouncing a January ruling by the region’s top human rights court that called on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of Sunday’s vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April. Initial results are expected by 8 p.m. local time (2100 ET/0200 GMT Monday).

Hundreds of Costa Ricans, many waving party flags of red, yellow, green, white and blue, set up stalls in front of polling stations early on Sunday, hoping to win over any remaining undecided voters.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, a congressman with the National Restoration Party, has called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

“We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family,” he said during the final debate of the campaign, and he threatened to pull out of the court as a result.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate of the National Liberation Party, has said that while he personally opposes the court’s decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court’s resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labor minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Gillermao Solis.

Elsewhere in the region, gay and lesbian couples can marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

“The next president has to get into the difficult issues in the country and not be in fights over religion,” said Ronald Pina, a 45-year-old government worker in the upper middle class Escazu neighborhood of San Jose.

“I vote for someone to govern, not to pray.”

Running a close second in one recent opinion poll, conservative Juan Diego Castro, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

A high-end coffee exporter, Costa Rica is well-known for its environmental stewardship and thriving eco-tourism sector.

The candidates, dressed in their party colors, went to vote early on Sunday, with some attending religious services afterward.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity slide as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he took office as a statement against homophobia.

Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative.</s>SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Ricans vote Sunday in a presidential race that has been turned on its ear by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in the polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals are agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens' Action Party.

A recent survey showed that more than a third of likely voters were undecided. If no candidate gets 40 percent or more, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 runoff.

The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has come to play a central role in the campaign. It also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples rights such the ability to inherit estates and adopt children.

Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an "external shock" for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation.

Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-year-old journalist, preacher and Christian singer, called the ruling a "sovereign violation" and saw his support balloon in the polls as socially conservative voters gravitated to that message.

Carlos Alvarado — no relation — is the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and has picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. A 38-year-old also trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens' Action and also was labor minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, says he opposes gay marriage but backs recognizing certain other rights for gay couples.

Voters will also be selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly.</s>Costa Ricans have voted in a presidential race shaken by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Costa Ricans have voted in a presidential race shaken by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in opinion polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals were agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens’ Action Party. But the outlook was cloudy because none of the 13 candidates polled at more than 17% and surveys indicated that more than a third of likely voters were undecided.

If no candidate reaches 40% of the total vote, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 run-off. Presidential candidate Antonio Alvarez Desanti talks with journalists after voting, outside a polling station in San Jose (Arnulfo Franco/AP) “I see this as very divided,” said Paula Rodriguez, a psychologist who cast her vote in Moravia, on the north-eastern outskirts of the capital San Jose.

“I really think nobody knows what will happen.” The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights came to play a central role in the campaign.

The court also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples such rights as the ability to inherit estates and adopt children. Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an “external shock” for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation with an increasing evangelical population.

“Our message has already won. We are very happy and we hope we have convinced more undecideds,” he told local media.

Carlos Alvarado, who is not related to Fabricio Alvarado, was the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. Trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens’ Action and also was labour minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Mr Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, said he opposes gay marriage but backs recognising certain other rights for gay couples. Voters were also selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly.</s>SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Costa Ricans voted Sunday in a presidential race shaken by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in opinion polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals were agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens' Action Party.

But the outlook was cloudy because none of 13 candidates polled at more than 17 per cent and surveys indicated that more than a third of likely voters were undecided.

If no candidate reaches 40 per cent of the total vote, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 runoff.

“I see this as very divided,” said Paula Rodriguez, a psychologist who cast her vote in Moravia, on the northeastern outskirts of the capital, San Jose. “I really think nobody knows what will happen.”

The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights came to play a central role in the campaign. The court also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples such rights as the ability to inherit estates and adopt children.

Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an “external shock” for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation with an increasing evangelical population.

Alvarado, a journalist, preacher and Christian singer, called the ruling a “sovereign violation” and saw his support balloon in the polls as socially conservative voters gravitated to that stance.

“Our message has already won. We are very happy and we hope we have convinced more undecideds,” Alvarado told local media.

Carlos Alvarado, who is not related to Fabricio Alvarado, was the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. Trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens' Action and also was labour minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, said he opposes gay marriage but backs recognizing certain other rights for gay couples.

Some voters had other issues on their minds. Carlos Morales, who cast a ballot in the Guadalupe district of San Jose, said his biggest concern is that the next president manage the government's deficit without creating new taxes.

“They say the government is broke and to fix that they are going to impose more taxes on us,” Morales said shortly before polls closed Sunday evening. “But I think people here are already living very tightly. Everything is very expensive, and that would hurt us all.”

Voters were also selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly.</s>related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

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Costa Ricans vote for a new president on Sunday in a race upended in the final weeks by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently been expanding in Latin America.

SAN JOSE: Costa Ricans vote for a new president on Sunday in a race upended in the final weeks by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently been expanding in Latin America.

Conservative Christian singer and TV personality Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field after speaking out against a January ruling by the region's top human rights court calling on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of Sunday's vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, a congressman with the National Restoration Party, has called the ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of the country's sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

"We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family," he said at the campaign's final debate, threatening to pull out of the court over its resolution.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate of the National Liberation Party, has said while he personally opposes the court's decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court's resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labour minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Gillermao Solis.

Elsewhere in the region, gay and lesbian couples can marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

Running a close second in one recent poll, conservative Juan Diego Castor, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

A high-end coffee exporter, Costa Rica is well-known for its environmental stewardship and thriving eco-tourism sector.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity slide as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he took office as a statement against homophobia.

Costa Rica's 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative.</s>SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Ricans voted for a new president on Sunday in a race upended by debate over same-sex marriage, with leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposing gay rights and challenging the country’s traditionally centrist politics.

Polls closed on Sunday evening, with initial results expected by 8 p.m. local time (2100 ET/0200 GMT Monday). If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of the vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April.

Conservative Christian singer and TV anchor Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field in opinion polls in the run-up to the vote, after denouncing a January ruling by the region’s top human rights court that called on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

A shift in support towards issue-based politics and relative outsiders has been a shock for some in Costa Rica, which has long offered a moderate two-party system and more stability than other countries in politically volatile Central America.

“I voted even though I wasn’t convinced. I decided to because they said anyone could get to the second round,” Amador Torres, a 65-year old former judiciary worker, said.

The voting was peaceful, with hundreds of Costa Ricans, many waving party flags of red, yellow, green, white and blue, manning stalls in front of polling stations.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, the lone elected lawmaker for the evangelical National Restoration Party, has called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

“We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family,” he said during the final debate of the campaign. He threatened to pull Costa Rica out of the court, which is based in the country’s capital, San Jose.

Running a close second to Alvarado in one recent opinion poll, conservative Juan Diego Castro, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform, as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate for the National Liberation Party, has said that while he personally opposes the court’s decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court’s resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labor minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Guillermo Solis.

“I’ve been surprised by the growth of minority parties,” said voter Olman Gomez, 49, a computer network engineer. “It feels like you’re living in another country in terms of politics.”

The candidates, dressed in their party colors, voted early on Sunday, with some attending religious services afterward.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity fall as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second consecutive term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he was sworn in, as a statement against homophobia.

Parts of Latin America have been moving towards more rights for same-sex couples, with gay and lesbian couples marrying in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative.

“The next president has to get into the difficult issues in the country and not be in fights over religion,” said Ronald Pina, a 45-year-old government worker in the upper middle class Escazu neighborhood of San Jose.

“I vote for someone to govern, not to pray.”</s>Costa Rica Votes For A New President, With Same-Sex Marriage Rights At The Forefront

Costa Ricans are heading to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president. The race is largely upended by a debate over gay rights as many candidates in the crowded field strongly oppose same-sex marriage, which many Latin American countries have recently instated.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights called for equal sex civil marriage rights, early in 2018. IACHR decisions are binding for Costa Rica, as signatory countries are required to allow it.

All of the race's candidates announced their support or willingness to respect the IACHR ruling, with the exception of evangelist and contemporary Christian singer Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration Party.

He jumped to first place in the polls at around 17 percent, up from 3 to 5 percent before his expressing his stance, according to a poll published Jan. 31 by the University of Costa Rica's Center for Research and Political Studies. No other candidates have condemned the ruling.

Following Alvarado are three candidates who were top in the polls until the ruling. Trailing behind Alvarado is Antonio Álvarez Desanti, a banana businessman and candidate of the National Liberation Party, which has won the presidency in nine out of the 16 elections. Juan Diego Castro of the National Integration Party and Rodolfo Piza Rocafort of the Social Christian Unity Party are also contenders. There are 13 candidates altogether.

The Pew Research Center found that 29 percent of Costa Ricans support same-sex marriage, and 61 percent are opposed. The country's 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic.

If no candidate tops 40 percent in the vote, the first two finishers advance to a runoff scheduled for April 1 — which happens to be Easter Sunday.

"Poll respondents are more fickle than ever, going from undecided to decided and back," said Felipe Alpízar, director of the University of Costa Rica's Center for Research and Political Studies.

Costa Rica's current president, Luis Guillermo Solís, won the presidency in a landslide four years ago, and is barred by law from running for a second term after an influence peddling scandal.

Polls will close Sunday at 9 p.m. E.T.</s>SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica—An evangelical candidate who soared in the polls after coming out strongly against same-sex marriage and a governing party loyalist who favors it led in preliminary returns from Costa Rica’s presidential election late Sunday, and appeared poised to go to a runoff.

With 68% of the ballots counted, Fabricio Alvarado had 25.2% of the vote and Carlos Alvarado—no relation—had 21.1%.</s>Gay marriage at the center of Costa Rica's Sunday presidential election

A debate over gay marriage has upturned Costa Rica's presidential race, giving ammunition to conservative frontrunners ahead of Sunday's vote and challenging the Central American country's image as a progressive bastion. Evangelical Christian singer and congressman Fabricio Alvarado, who leads recent polls, has pitted himself against a January ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that urges Costa Rica to legalize same-sex marriage.

Alvarado, 43, has said the Costa Rica-based court is violating the country's sovereignty and jeopardizing its traditional family values. He has threatened to withdraw Costa Rica from the court system, as Venezuela did.

We are not ready for a LGBT agenda, Alvarado said at a candidate debate. Let's make February 4 our referendum on the marriage between men and women.

His meteoric rise is unlikely to be enough for him to win without a run-off vote in April. But Alvarado has pushed other candidates among the 13 contenders to adopt more conservative tones, including ex-government minister Antonio Alvarez Desanti, leader of the powerful National Liberation party.

Alvarez Desanti, a 59-year-old banana entrepreneur, has pledged to respect the court's decision on gay marriage but said he would not personally support it. That sparked criticism from liberal factions of his center-right party in a country whose pura vida, catchphrase suggests a chilled approach to life.

Neither Alvarado nor Alvarez Desanti is expected to reach the 40% of votes required to win in the first round.

Conservative Juan Diego Castro also hopes to land on the April run-off ballot. The former justice minister is running on a platform of tough anti-crime measures and less restrictions on miners and oil companies in a nation known for stewardship of rainforests and oceans.

Despite Costa Rica's reputation as socially forward looking, with high education and health standards, reproductive rights such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and abortion are not widely accepted, and seven out of ten people consider themselves conservative, according to a University of Costa Rica poll.

Those who propose gay marriage do not understand Costa Rica, said Marcela Linares, 56, as she attended to her stall in a San Jose marketplace presided over by an image of Costa Rica's patron saint. This country is not that, here it is marriage between a man and a woman. Here there is fear of God.

The gay community has counted some triumphs, however.

President Solis' administration and his Citizen Action Party (PAC) flew a rainbow-striped flag over the presidential house in 2014, the first time a Latin American government raised the gay rights banner over an official building.

A request from Solis several years ago prompted the Inter-American Court's ruling on legalizing gay marriage. But many of Costa Rica's 3.3 million voters are still unsure who to support, according to polls, after a campaign season marked by skepticism and apathy.
Costa Ricans head to the polls to elect a new President, amidst a gay rights controversy.