Costa Rica's presidential candidate Rodrigo Chaves, of the Social Democratic Progress Party, speaks during a press conference in San Jose, on March 22, 2022. (EZEQUIEL BECERRA / AFP)

SAN JOSE – Rodrigo Chaves, the finance minister in Costa Rica's outgoing government, was in pole position to win a run-off for the presidency in less than two weeks time, a voter survey showed on Tuesday, though the race remained too tight to call. 

Chaves, an anti-establishment technocrat who had worked for the World Bank up until 2019, scored 43.3 percent against 38.1 percent for Jose Maria Figueres, a centrist candidate who was last president from 1994-1998, according to the poll published by the University of Costa Rica. 

READ MORE: Ex-president reaches Costa Rica run-off, ex-minister likely awaits

The winner of the April 3 run-off will replace Carlos Alvarado Quesada, with the transfer of power set for May 8 

The survey of 1,015 voters, conducted by the university's Center for Research and Political Studies (CIEP) between March 17-21, found 16.5 percent were still undecided. 

And with Chaves's lead reduced to just over five percentage points the contest could go to the wire, whereas a similar poll earlier this month had made him the favorite to win. read more 

Given the margin of error of 3.1 points, the latest poll did not show any clear winner as Figuere's maximum could beat Chaves's minimum, researcher Jesus Guzman told Reuters. 

The first round was held in February, when Chaves, the ruling Social Democratic Progress Party (PPSD) candidate, surprisingly came second with 17 percent of the vote, ten points less than Figueres, the National Liberation Party (PLN) candidate who fell short of the 40 percent needed to be declared the outright winner.  

ALSO READ: Costa Rica's president says therapeutic abortions will be allowed

The winner of the April 3 run-off will replace Carlos Alvarado Quesada, with the transfer of power set for May 8. Costa Rica's constitution bars presidents from holding two consecutive terms.