Álvaro Ramos Becomes Presidential Candidate for Partido Liberación Nacional Following Internal Convention
Ramos secured 81% of the vote, emerging as the candidate for the 2026 elections amid low voter turnout.
Álvaro Ramos, a prominent figure within Costa Rica's Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), has been selected as the party’s presidential candidate for the upcoming 2026 elections.
The announcement was made during the party's internal convention held on April 6, 2025. According to preliminary results released by the PLN, Ramos garnered an impressive 81% of the votes, far surpassing other candidates in the race.
In detail, Ramos received 56,219 votes out of 71,390 total ballots cast, which reflects a voter turnout that is projected to reach around 150,000 once all results are tallied.
Following him was Gilberth Jiménez, who secured 9.6% of the votes, totaling 6,648.
Carolina Delgado and Marvin Taylor received 4.69% (3,238 votes) and 4.26% (2,942 votes) respectively.
The low participation rate in this internal election has been noted as notably lower than previous conventions, which had participation numbers exceeding 400,000.
In his acceptance speech at the Crowne Plaza Corobicí in San José, Ramos expressed gratitude towards the voters and called for unity among party members and other candidates to support a collective agenda for the party's growth.
He highlighted the frustrations many Costa Ricans feel regarding unfulfilled promises related to healthcare, security, and education, positioning those as key issues for his campaign.
Ramos, who has a background as the former president of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and extensive experience in public service and economics, has been characterized as a fresh face in the party with aspirations to rejuvenate the PLN.
His campaign thus far has emphasized security issues and creating opportunities for the youth, citing the necessity for educational policies and job creation as pivotal to addressing these concerns.
Historically, Ramos has been recognized for overcoming challenges associated with his hearing impairment, having learned to communicate effectively despite the difficulties.
His ascent in the political sphere is underscored by prior roles at the international level, including his tenure with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Switzerland.
He resigned from the CCSS after a disagreement with President Rodrigo Chaves concerning a promised salary increase for employees of the organization.
As the candidate for the PLN, Ramos has signified a willingness to form alliances with other political movements, aiming to build a broad coalition to address the pressing issues facing Costa Rica.
The PLN, a party with a long-standing legacy in Costa Rican politics, is positioned to require a unified front to successfully navigate the upcoming election cycle and instigate necessary changes within the party structure.
Ramos's unexpected victory reflects both his appeal to party members as a renewal option and the challenges the PLN faces in re-engaging its base and attracting new supporters ahead of the elections.
The internal dynamics within the PLN, and Ramos's role in them, will be closely monitored as the 2026 election approaches.
The announcement was made during the party's internal convention held on April 6, 2025. According to preliminary results released by the PLN, Ramos garnered an impressive 81% of the votes, far surpassing other candidates in the race.
In detail, Ramos received 56,219 votes out of 71,390 total ballots cast, which reflects a voter turnout that is projected to reach around 150,000 once all results are tallied.
Following him was Gilberth Jiménez, who secured 9.6% of the votes, totaling 6,648.
Carolina Delgado and Marvin Taylor received 4.69% (3,238 votes) and 4.26% (2,942 votes) respectively.
The low participation rate in this internal election has been noted as notably lower than previous conventions, which had participation numbers exceeding 400,000.
In his acceptance speech at the Crowne Plaza Corobicí in San José, Ramos expressed gratitude towards the voters and called for unity among party members and other candidates to support a collective agenda for the party's growth.
He highlighted the frustrations many Costa Ricans feel regarding unfulfilled promises related to healthcare, security, and education, positioning those as key issues for his campaign.
Ramos, who has a background as the former president of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and extensive experience in public service and economics, has been characterized as a fresh face in the party with aspirations to rejuvenate the PLN.
His campaign thus far has emphasized security issues and creating opportunities for the youth, citing the necessity for educational policies and job creation as pivotal to addressing these concerns.
Historically, Ramos has been recognized for overcoming challenges associated with his hearing impairment, having learned to communicate effectively despite the difficulties.
His ascent in the political sphere is underscored by prior roles at the international level, including his tenure with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Switzerland.
He resigned from the CCSS after a disagreement with President Rodrigo Chaves concerning a promised salary increase for employees of the organization.
As the candidate for the PLN, Ramos has signified a willingness to form alliances with other political movements, aiming to build a broad coalition to address the pressing issues facing Costa Rica.
The PLN, a party with a long-standing legacy in Costa Rican politics, is positioned to require a unified front to successfully navigate the upcoming election cycle and instigate necessary changes within the party structure.
Ramos's unexpected victory reflects both his appeal to party members as a renewal option and the challenges the PLN faces in re-engaging its base and attracting new supporters ahead of the elections.
The internal dynamics within the PLN, and Ramos's role in them, will be closely monitored as the 2026 election approaches.
