pln primaries, known as national conventions ("convención nacional liberacionista") were common place since the party’s foundation, yet in the previous election of 2006 pln’s nominee former president óscar arias seeking re-election ran unopposed and was designated by the party’s national assembly. unlike its rival pac, pln's election was an open primary and as such every costa rican could vote as far as pledge written membership to the party (pln holds open primaries since the 70s). debates among pln and pac’s candidates respectively were organized in different colleges, ngos and news networks.