Abstention is Antipatriotic TSE Chief Says
Óscar Fonseca, president of the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE), is making a strong call to all Costa Ricans to vore on the first Sunday in February of 2006. Official opening the presidential campaign, Fonseca told Costa Ricans "not to be ungratefuel of our country and the inheritance of democracy of our grandfathers."

According to Fonseca, abstention from voting, is an antipatriotic act, irresponsable and does not help in resolving the problems facing the country. For Fonseca, not voting, is sending a message to the neighbouring country that the Costa Rican Republic is not solid.

2.537.470 people are on the voters list that are expected to do their patriotic duty to vote to choose a president from a list of 14 presidential candidates and cast a vote for provincial and distric candidates.

According to the TSE, there 27 more political groups for 2006 over the elections of 2002.