Teletica aired an unconventional political program called the “Antidebate” on its TD Más channel, bringing together four presidential candidates in Costa Rica: Claudia Dobles, Álvaro Ramos, Ariel Robles, and Juan Carlos Hidalgo. The event was marked by a casual atmosphere, diverging from the typical formal tone of electoral debates.
From the outset, the participants engaged in light-hearted exchanges. Ariel Robles initiated the discussion with a question about football rivalries between local teams Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and Deportivo Saprissa. It was revealed that only Dobles supported La Liga while her opponents were fans of Saprissa. This set a relaxed tone as candidates used football analogies throughout their conversation.
As the segment concluded, Hidalgo remarked humorously that although there would be no declared winners for the night, Saprissa supporters had the majority among them. Dobles responded with pride in her team by saying, “But La Liga is champion.”
The debate shifted to reactions regarding recent polling data from CIEP showing all four as trailing behind Laura Fernández, who leads with 40% support. The candidates acknowledged these results but agreed on continuing their campaigns to strengthen democracy.
Discussions turned more serious when addressing issues like security and education. Each candidate expressed intentions to restore police control and improve public safety if elected.
Throughout more than two hours on air, moments of levity alternated with personal reflections. At one point, Ariel Robles became emotional when recounting his recent experience at San Juan de Dios Hospital’s oncology unit with his mother-in-law battling cancer:
“‘How would you rate it?’ I don’t have money to pay them. Really, the care in chemotherapy and radiotherapy units is… I don’t know,” said Robles visibly moved.
He continued: “My whole family uses Caja services. Being there… I have no words to thank them enough. It’s completely humane care.”
Juan Carlos Hidalgo also shared gratitude for recent care his mother received from public health services, while Claudia Dobles referenced her son Gabriel’s surgery through similar channels. Álvaro Ramos praised nurses’ skills managing children during vaccinations but noted accessibility challenges for deaf patients: “Think about a deaf parent waiting to be called,” he said.
The program ended with quick questions ranging from musical preferences—Ramos declined karaoke due to his hearing impairment—to beverage choices; opinions varied without endorsements of any particular brand.
The Antidebate provided an opportunity for voters to see another side of these candidates as they discussed both personal stories and policy issues ahead of Costa Rica’s upcoming election.
