Political Debate Marred By Attacks and Dares
Although everyone expected Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) leader, Ottón Solís, to put on the boxing gloves, it was Unión Para el Cambio (UPC), Antonio Alvarez, who came out swinging in the first televised debate between the presidential candidates aired on Repretel channel 11 on Sunday.

The attack was against rival Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) leader, Óscar Arias.

Solís however didn't sit still and was quickly joined by Movimiento Libertario leasder, Otto Guevara, and Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) leader, Ricardo Toledo.

During the 90 minute debate, the candidates let their positions be known, which included changes to the infrastructure, telecommunications, better distribution of revenues, public ethics, and unemployment.

However, the real hot issues were education and election financing.

The debate got hot when Alvarez, Guevara and Solís were quick to answer, while Toledo and Arias skirted around the issue of where would their children attend school - private or public?

"We have to be honest, we all prefer private, in this we must be sincere. However, we have to support public. We have to give the young an opportunity they deserve. I am happy to hear Arias will support education because during his administration he reduced investment in education", said Alaverz.

Arias shot back, saying that government needs to prioritize and during his administration (Arias was president from 1986 - 1990) there was important support for education, but housing came first.

Alvarez kept pressing, saying that a government cannot be "unitemático" (one themed), the problems of the country have to be looked together as a whole.

Arias countered with the reminded that both Alvarez and Solís were members of his cabinet during his administration.