Chamber:
	Asamblea Legislativa
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	4 February 1990
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	As is the custom in Costa Rica, the 1990 parliamentary elections were held simultaneously with those for President of the Republic. There were altogether seven candidates for the presidency, but the race was ultimately expected to be between Mr. Carlos Manuel Castillo of the ruling National Liberation Party (Partido de Liberación Nacional – PLN) and Mr. Rafael Angel Calderón Fournier of the Social Christian Unity Party (Partido Unidad Social Cristiana – PUSC); by law, outgoing President Arias Sanchez (PLN) was ineligible to run. During the campaign, much of the rhetoric concerned the question of which candidate could be trust to continue the policies of the popular Mr. Arias. Messrs. Castillo and Calderón differed little on the issues in their platforms. The slogan of the centrist Mr. Castillo was "We can trust him". Mr. Calderón – himself the son of a former President – expressed his support for Mr. Arias’ regional peace plan for Central America but announced that, if elected, he would devote his energies to domestic questions. He took a populist stand, pledging to fight crime, poverty and poor housing, and asked for unity to combat drug trafficking and corruption. On polling day, Mr. Calderón won the presidency after two previous failed attempts. The conservative PUSC likewise emerged victorious in the parliamentary poll, exchanging places with the social democratic PLN in raising its total by four to 29 seats. The remaining three seats went to smaller parties (one left-wing, two regional). Mr. Calderón assumed office for a four-year term on 8 May 1990; a new Cabinet had been named on 6 March. The newly elected Parliament met as from 1 May.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (4 February 1990): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,692,050
Voters	85% (approx.)
Valid votes	1,328,827

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)	29	+4
National Liberation Party (PLN)	25	-1
Partido Pueblo Unido	1	n.a.
Partido Unión Agricola Cartaginés	1	n.a.
Partido Unión Generalena	1	n.a.

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	50
Women:	7