Arias Refused to Enter the Debate Ring, Rivals Say He is Afraid
It's definite, presidential election front runner, Oscar Arias, of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), says he is not a "gallito" to enter the fight ring, refusing to debate his rival candidates. Arias says he prefers to take his message to the people rather than waste time debating on national television.

His opponents, Ottón Solís of the Acción Ciudadana (PAC) and Otto Guevara of the Movimiento Libertario has challenged Arias to the debates.

"No quiero ser un gallito de pelea en el cuadrilátero, quiero acuerdos, no sangre." (I don't want to be the rooster in the boxin ring, I want agreements, not blood), said Arias, who says he has told his friend Ottón he would rather sit down to coffee and converse.

Arias is the front runner in the election a little over three weeks away. On February 5, Arias is expected to easily get the required 40% of the vote that will declare him winner.

Arias plans to visit small towns and mingle with the people during the rest of the election, at the same time appeasing union and business leaders.

Solís, in the face of rejection over the debate, has not kept quiet, saying that Arias is afraid to defend his ideas. "A debate is normal in a democracy, in reality he (Arias) is afraid to defend his ideas. He would ask Rafael Ángel Calderón to debate him. If he has good ideas he should be able to defend them", were the words of Solís.

The rivals say that Arias is afraid of defending some of his past actions, like his association with Manuel Antonio Noriega and that he has little tolerance for conversation, as he likes to spend millions talking alone.