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 with around 78 percent of votes by tapping in to public anger at rising inequality and government corruption scandals.