The “Pura Vida” lifestyle of Costa Ricans is also reflected in the way we approach Presidential elections, in between debates, polls and diverse opinions, Ticos don’t lose their sense of humor, well, this is perhaps our way of taking a bit of the “edge” off a very serious matter.

The last poll published by the Center for Political Studies and Investigation of the University of Costa Rica (CIEP-UCR) on January 31st, showed a 36.5% of voters have not yet decided who they will vote for this coming Sunday, February 4, while the candidate with the most support was Fabricio Alvarado from the National Restoration Party with a 16.9% followed by Antonio Alvarez Desanti from National Liberation Party (PLN) with a 12.4% and in third place, Carlos Alvarado from the Citizens Action Party with a 10.6%.

The results of this poll once again raised the alarm of many that feel Fabricio Alvarado does not have the experience or team to be able to take the country in the right direction; the candidate for the National Restoration Party is a congressman, he is also an Evangelical Christian, a singer and preacher in his church.

As it is normal in any Presidential Election, the candidate ahead in the polls receives the most attacks and questionings. This Thursday however, it was Alvarado’s wife, Laura Moscoa who took the heat in the national press and social media and became the target of criticisms, insults, and many forms of “humor”.

Moscoa, who could eventually become Costa Rica’s next First Lady, is also an Evangelical Christian, minister and preacher at her church. Moscoa appears on a Facebook Live video from January this year next to another woman, also member of her church, speaking about the power of fasting; the two women are self-proclaimed “prophets” and also share stories on their power to heal through the Holy Spirit, “We are going to awaken miracles”, says Moscoa, “the gift of healing began to enter my body, and it impregnated me (…) I started feeling fire in my womb and I started feeling how the spirit of God began impregnating me of something new”, expresses Alvarado’s wife in the video. (A small part of the video is included below)

At some point in the video the woman begins “speaking in tongues” … something to the effects of “Ramasheka Talamasoa, Kataramasoa, Kotoromokenda, Mamaché”.

The reactions to the video in social media went from serious concerns about Moscoa’s ability to represent the country as a First Lady, to criticisms about religion, insults, and jokes… many, many jokes.

This unfortunate situation for Fabricio Alvarado and Laura Moscoa, and I say unfortunate, because the personal religious beliefs of the couple should be respected, shines the light over the fact that just days away from making a very important decision and with over 36% of the voters not having made up their mind, the trending topic is the video of a woman speaking gibberish as opposed to the Fiscal Deficit of the country for instance.

This was also evident on January 30, when, during the Presidential Debate organized by Channel 7, Rodolfo Piza, candidate for the Social Christian Unity Party, closed his statement by saying:

“I brought you (addressing Alvarez Desanti), a mouthwash, (he handed him a small Listerine bottle), so that you wash your mouth before you speak about me again, and specially so you stop lying… because you come here to lie!” stated Piza.

The touch of humor crated an uncountable number of “memes”, and whatever was discussed in the debate was quickly forgotten.

With just three more days left before the elections Costa Ricans have a lot of elements to consider, but the touch of Pura Vida certainly is not missing in the process.

Memes