Costa Rica leftist easily wins presidential run-off

Luis Guillermo Solis, presidential candidate of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC), greets supporters after casting his ballot at a voting station during Costa Rica's presidential election run-off in San Jose April 6, 2014. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - A centre-left academic who has never held elected office easily won Costa Rica's presidential election on Sunday, ousting the graft-stained ruling party from power after its candidate quit campaigning a month ago.

Former diplomat Luis Guillermo Solis, of the Citizen Action Party (PAC), won more than three-quarters of votes by tapping in to public anger at rising inequality and government corruption scandals.