the 1886 costa rican general election was held on 4 april 1886. after the death of próspero fernández oreamuno in march 1885, bernardo soto alfaro took over the presidency temporarily for the remainder of the term. soto was a thirty-year-old young man who had to command the country in the war against guatemala that sought to re-establish the federal republic of central america. soto was a freemason and liberal, belonging to "the olympus", a group of liberal intellectuals who would have a great influence on costa rican politics and many would hold the presidency of the republic.