SAN JOSE: Surrounded by a throng of supporters on Sunday, historian and former diplomat Luis Guillermo Solis voted in Costa Rica's presidential run-off, careening towards victory in a race in which he faces no opposition.
His lone rival, Johnny Araya, dropped out last month after polls showed he would be soundly defeated, giving Solis a glide path to the presidency in this country of some five million people.
Making his way through the crowd while delivering hugs, kisses and taking photos with followers' cell phones, Solis cast his ballot just after 11 am (1700 GMT) at a school in eastern San Jose.
After voting, he urged people to turn out to the polls despite the cool weather in most of the Central American country.
"I'm asking people who have not voted, which apparently is many, to do so as soon as possible. There are many hours left and it's very important that everyone vote," Solis said.
After depositing his ballot, the candidate used his cell phone to take a picture, smiling, thumb up and with followers behind him, which soon appeared on his Twitter account with a caption urging people to vote.
One candidate, two names:
Although only one candidate is in the run-off, Araya's name remains on the ballot because the constitution prevents him from withdrawing.
Araya was the candidate of the ruling National Liberation Party (PLN), which has fallen into disfavour because of alleged corruption and economic crisis under outgoing President Laura Chinchilla.
The recent scandals have weakened not just Chinchilla and the PLN, but also the two-party system in Costa Rica, Latin America's oldest democracy.
Power in this Central American country has traditionally been traded between the social democratic PLN and the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC).
With his path wide open, Solis is set to become the first third-party candidate to win the Costa Rican presidency in 50 years.
As the candidate of the moderate Citizen Action Party, Solis, 55, was a surprise winner of the first-round vote on February 2 from a field of four.
His popularity continued to surge and by early March a poll showed him with nearly a 45 percent lead over Araya.
Victory a foregone conclusion:
Solis's Citizen Action Party, formed to fight corruption and support better income distribution, is just 13 years old.
"The time has come for change," said Solis, who left the PLN in 2005 because of its embrace of neoliberal policies, speaking in his closing campaign speech.
With his election a foregone conclusion, Solis's challenge in recent weeks was not so much to convince Costa Ricans to vote for him, as to persuade them to the ballot box at all.
Araya, meanwhile, took to social media, calling on Costa Ricans to vote "with the best in mind" for the country. The PLN has continued to appeal for Araya votes, if only "for dignity' sake."
"Anything can happen" Araya said, referring to the campaign, which has been full of surprises.
Jose Ramirez, a 26-year-old restaurant employee, said the he hoped the election would bring "real change," and that he was voting for Solis "with the hope that he can end government robbery and govern for the people."
Assuming that Solis is elected, his four-year term will see him dealing with a politically diverse Congress in which his PAC party is currently second in strength behind the PLN.
"Solis has raised many expectations. If he succeeds in adopting a different style of leadership, with a greater openness to dialogue, he will have the political space to confront complicated problems," said sociologist Manuel Rojas.
Political analyst Jaime Ordonez said restoring confidence and uniting the country "will require intelligence, character and great serenity."
"We have reached a breaking point. Our entire state is designed for a two-party Costa Rica that no longer exists," he said.
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