a primary election was held among the members of costa rica’s national liberation party (pln) on june 3, 2001 in order to choose pln’s nominee for presidency in the 2002 general election. pln was then the main opposition party facing then in government social christian unity party. this, as was common since the 70s, was an open primary and as such all costa ricans could vote in it with the only requirement be signing membership of the party moments before entering the polls.