Costa Rica: Araya likely next President

The mayor of San José, Johnny Araya, is likely to become the next President of Costa Rica, ahead of elections scheduled for February 2014.

The National Liberation Party (PLN in its Spanish initials), to which he belongs, is by far the most popular in the country.

The other potential PLN candidates, Rodrigo Arias, brother of ex President Oscar Arias, and former Security Minister Fernando Berrocal, withdrew from the race this month.

More than a third of voters would support another PLN government PLN, while support for all other parties together is at only 22%, according to the latest survey by CID Gallup Latin America.

Among national political figures, Araya is by far the most popular, with a 61% favorable rating.