Pro-Gay Marriage Candidate Wins Surprise Costa Rica Landslide

[brooklynite]

Source: Bloomberg

Costa Ricans elected a president from the ruling party, confounding polls which had predicted a win for an evangelical singer and preacher who’d campaigned on his opposition to gay marriage.

Carlos Alvarado, a novelist and former rock-and-roll singer will take office on May 8, after winning 61 percent of the vote, with 91 percent of polling stations reporting.

Fabricio Alvarado, 43, shot into the lead in a first round vote in February after he opposed a ruling by an international court that supported same-sex marriage in the country.

Carlos Alvarado, a 38-year-old former labor minister, backed the international court ruling and promised to get religion out of government.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-01/rock-n-roller-battles-gospel-singer-for-costa-rica-presidency

[sandensea]

1. I wonder how long until the RW stage a judicial/legislative coup against him.

While known for its violent military coups, today's Latin American right-wingers prefer what neocons like to call soft coups - i.e. by way of staged impeachments and pressure from kangaroo courts, with an assist from big media (and the occasional false flag assassination).

That said, all the best to Carlos Alvarado. Costa Rica is a beautiful country, and they're both lucky to have one another.

[msongs]

2. young guy for being a nation's president. hope that's a good sign nt

[IrishEyes]

6. President Obama was 47 when he became president.

[cilla4progress]

3. Very happy

to hear this!!!

[SunSeeker]

4. Yay!

[DFW]

5. Getting religion out of government is always a good thing

If Carlos Alvarado is successful at it, maybe he can come on up to Yanqui-land and show us how it's done.

[mcar]

7. We just got back from Costa Rica

I saw a few campaign signs here and there but had no idea a presidential election was going on.

[Demonaut]

8. what does this line mean? the opposite?

"Fabricio Alvarado, 43, shot into the lead in a first round vote in February after he opposed a ruling by an international court that supported same-sex marriage in the country."

[ck4829]

9. They move forward while we have a government that increasingly treats the GLBTQ as enemies.

Good to know there's a place not too far away from the US as it dips further and further into fascism.